held up, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 3 out, jumped slowly when hampered last, virtually pulled up flat
keen, led briefly after 2nd, jumped left and hit 6th, not fluent next, lost place and behind when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, chased winner from 7th, ridden 11th, one pace from 2 out
in touch when blundered badly and lost place 1st, staying on in 3rd when hit 3 out, 15 lengths behind 2nd when fell heavy last
in rear, headway to go in touch 8th, weakened 3 out, hampered and left poor 3rd last
made virtually all, headed briefly after 2nd, clear after 8th, unchallenged
tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, not fluent 9th, soon weakened and jumped left 3 out
Both Ursis and Jeremy Cuddle Duck should improve on their chasing debut's, however we will tentatively side with the latter, with Brumous looking a danger. The selection has been given 100 days to get over his last run where he ultimately disappointed at skinny odds. He jumped violently out to his right that day and would probably have won but for that, so he should make a splash today in these wet conditions. Brumous makes his chasing debut today after a lengthy break of 306 days, however if stripping fit and jumping well, he could be on the scene. Fountain Hill makes his chasing debut today for the powerful Nicholls stable, although this smart hurdler may just come on for the run after almost two years off the track. Jonjo O'Neill's Ursis made a fair chasing debut last month and should come on for that run, and noting that his stable had an across-the-card four-timer on Wednesday, he must be a live danger. However we will stick with the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Jeremy Cuddle Duck to lead them home.
Brumous (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) In touch, headway 6th, chased winner from 3 out, one pace from last, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Extra Smooth (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Mar.
Dryliner 100-1 (11-1) Blundered 1st, soon tailed off and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Howrwenow (11-6) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Fountain Hill (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Always towards rear, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Holland Park (11-0) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Apr '05, 22 ran.
Jeremy Cuddle Duck (IRE) 13-8fav (10-12) Tracked leader, jumped and hung right throughout, led 13th, hung right from 3 out, jumped badly right 2 out, virtually ran off the track, 4th of 12, 23l behind Heltornic (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (3) gs in Oct.
Molostiep (FR) 9-2 (11-4) In touch, led 6th, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in Feb beating Regal Term (10-8) by 2l, 16 ran.
Ursis (FR) 5-1 (11-3) Jumped right, tracked leader from 2nd, led after 9th, headed 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Trouble At Bay (11-3) at Hereford 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Young Cuthbert 100-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, well behind Chickapeakray (11-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Dec.
