held up in touch, 6th and held when pulled up quickly and dismounted before 2 out, lame
held up in touch, challenged 3 out, upsides when left in lead 2 out, clear approaching last, driven and stayed on well
held up, steady headway to track leaders after 4 out, narrow lead 3 out, narrow leader when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, lost place before 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, mistake 8th, weakened before 4 out
tracked leaders, challenged from 4 out, one pace approaching 2 out
led, mistake 4 out, narrowly headed 3 out, left chasing winner from next, one pace
tracked leaders, went 2nd 10th, pushed along from 13th, stayed challenging from 4 out, one pace before 2 out
lost place and behind from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
jumped left, always behind, tailed off 13th, pulled up before 3 out
never going well in rear, blundered 2nd and 11th, tailed off
Irish Hussar looked to be back to something like his best when chasing home a rejuvenated Shooting Light in Newbury's Aon Chase a fortnight ago but the pair face no easy task, despite being 12lbs and 9lbs well-in on official BHB ratings respectively, and we prefer to side with the bottom weight Jimmy Tennis, who looks to be ahead of the handicapper. The Venetia Williams-trained gelding was travelling well at Doncaster when falling five out in the Skybet Chase at Doncaster and comfortably made amends at Leicester last week. Well served by good ground and, with Sam Thomas able to take off another 5lbs, he gets the vote to land this valuable prize. His Doncaster conqueror Tyneandthyneagain was similarly impressive when landing the Eider Chase at Newcastle last week but has more to do today and may find this coming too quick for him. Last year's winner La Landiere and 2002 scorer Gunther McBride face no easy task off their current marks, while this looks more competitive than the race Iznogoud won here two weeks ago. Kelami has to be respected given Francois Doumen's fine record with his runners in this country, while Hunters Tweed has been in good form of late but the vote goes to Jimmy Tennis who is taken to make the most of the weight that he receives from his rivals.
