with leader, ridden to challenge after 3 out, soon under pressure, kept on same pace
tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 4 out, pulled up after next
held up, in touch, mistakes 7th and 10th, blundered badly and slipped on landing after 3 out, soon unseated rider
held up towards rear, headway halfway, soon tracking leaders, jumped left 2 out, led last, ridden out
led, mistake 5th, jumped left 2 out, blundered last, soon headed, no extra
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, soon ridden to challenge, kept on same pace approaching last
HOLD EM made good strides last year and will be hard to master if he runs to the same level over fences today. Georgian King and Strong Coffee are likely to provide the sternest challenges, while Orphelin Collonges has showed ability in modest company but now has a bit to find on the balance of form. Standing up to fences may well be the making of him, so he is no forlorn hope in this small field. Strong Coffee won a beginners chase at Southwell in a pleasing manner and has the scope to make a decent chaser. He picks up a 6lb penalty today, though; which leaves him with a stiff test at the weights. Georgian King enjoyed mixed fortunes last season and, having fallen at Uttoxeter on his penultimate start, he was a little hesitant at his flights when he was last seen out. Being trained by Alan King, it is safe to assume he will have been put through his paces at home; so he may well improve for this first try over the larger obstacles. However, Hold Em fared very well against far superior types last season and if he transfers any of that natural ability to fences he will be very much the one to beat. The six-year-old, who was placed in a Grade 1 hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, is an athletic type and looks a bright prospect for Keith Goldsworthy's 2008/09 campaign.
Strong Coffee 1-3fav (11-4) Made all, hit 15th, in command from 3 out, ridden out, won at Southwell 3m beg chs (3) gd in Oct beating Loch Vic (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 4 ran.
Chouxdamour (FR) 66-1 (11-3) Hit 5th, always behind, 15th of 19, well behind Pasco (11-9) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (3) gs in Feb.
Georgian King 2-9fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, shaken up 3 out, led approaching next, driven clear flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Jun beating Tide Slider (10-12) by 9l, 6 ran.
Hold Em (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, effort approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 6th of 15, 26l behind Ursis (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Sept.
Mount Oscar (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 41l behind Sir Harry Ormesher (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f beg chs (3) gs in Oct.
Orphelin Collonges (FR) 7-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden 4 out, mistake next, one pace, 4th of 11, 15l behind Quickbeam (11-7) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
