prominent, ridden to chase winner 3 out, no impression
chased leaders to 4 out
pressed leader, not fluent 2nd, slightly hampered 9th, led 4 out, drawing clear when mistake next, easily
mid-division, hampered 7th, weakened 4 out
led, mistake 9th, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, struggling 4 out
held up in rear, badly hampered 7th, no chance when blundered 3 out
in rear, struggling after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, fell 7th
held up in rear, headway 9th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace
towards rear, mistake 5th, mistake and hampered 7th, headway 4 out, stayed on same pace from 3 out
always in rear
Nonrunner
MIDNIGHT HAZE landed a touch on his recent Kempton outing and could be very well-treated under a penalty; the best of the rest may be Far More Serious, Nawow and Bradford Boris. Kim Bailey's unexposed chaser really took the race by the scruff of the neck at Kempton and jumped his rivals into submission. That was only his third start over fences and with more improvement to come he looks sure to run a huge race. Mr Prickle needs to improve for the return to this trip but he has run in some good races before, the drop in trip may suit Far More Serious who has been off the track for a long time, whilst Nawow has been given a chance by the handicapper with a 3lb rise in the weights for a Stratford success. Marked Man is a course and distance winner, Devil's Creek needs watching in the betting, whilst Thomondgate can improve on just his second chase start. Roussea and chasing debutants Bradford Boris and Friends Of Tina are others to consider, however it is Midnight Haze who is selected.
Midnight Haze 3-1fav (11-4) Made all, jumped right, not fluent 10th, drew well clear approaching 3 out, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd beating Sydney Sling (11-0) by 14l, 10 ran.
Mr Prickle (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders until driven and lost place 7th, behind and no chance after, 6th of 8, 30l behind Russian Flag (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Far More Serious (IRE) 10-3fav (11-8) Led until approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 12, well behind Macmar (11-12) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan '08.
Nawow 7-4fav (11-4) Held up, headway after 8th, pushed along after 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, led last, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct beating Star Galaxy (10-0) by 2l, 7 ran.
Marked Man (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Held up in rear, bad mistake 1st, mistake 9th, headway 14th, lost place when hit 4 out, soon eased, 7th of 8, 29l behind Winsley Hill (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Oct.
Devil's Creek (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, ridden and well beaten after 3 out, last of 9, 31l behind Miss Pross (11-11) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Thomondgate (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, effort when mistake 9th, soon weakened, mistake 11th, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Jump Jet (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Palos Conti (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Held up, outpaced and blundered 3 out and next, never dangerous, last of 12, 34l behind Silver Steel (11-9) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Whatcanisay 6-1 (11-1) Held up, headway from 12th, mistake 15th, ridden after 17th, went 3rd 4 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Freeline Fury (11-4) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Mar.
Friends of Tina (IRE) 13-2 (10-10) Mid-division, headway under pressure 2 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind You And I (11-8) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Roussea (IRE) 3-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, weakened between last 2, 4th of 8, 15l behind Zorro De La Vega (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Bradford Boris 12-1 (10-12) Led, ridden from 3 out, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 13l behind Jim Bobs Girl (10-5) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Tavalu (USA) 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, weakened 7th, 4th of 6, 26l behind Carey's Road (11-12) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Auditor 50-1 (10-8) Led until after 3rd, reminders before next, gave up after 6th, soon behind, 7th of 9, well behind Wide Receiver (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp 0-100 (4) gs.
Mad Professor (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 9th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, hampered last, 6th of 14, 37l behind R'Cam (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gd.
