chased leader to 8th, weakened quickly, tailed off
led, narrowly headed after 4 out, lost 2nd next, soon no chance with front pair, jumped left last, just held on for 3rd
held up, short lived effort 8th, 5th and struggling when mistakes last 3
in touch, headway to chase leading pair 8th, led soon after 3 out, soon in command, eased flat
chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led after 4 out, headed soon after 3 out, no chance with winner next, stayed on for clear 2nd
in touch, ridden 9th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on to pressure for moderate 3rd near finish
chased leaders until weakened after 8th, tailed off
Esprit Saint is taken to build on his recent chase debut at Market Rasen and make amends today, at the main expense of Ballybough Jack and Danse Macabre. The last-named was a decent hurdler, and although he was a fairly distant fourth on his chasing debut last month, he is expected to build on that experience and could make the frame today. Ballybough Jack has the services of main man Timmy Murphy again today. The gelding was a fair second to Afrad last time out and with the jockey riding well at present he must rate a danger. Guru would be a major player if reproducing some of his best hurdling form, however his sole chase start was not anything to shout about and so for that reason he is passed over. For the winner then, we side with Alan King's Esprit Saint. He jumped well on his chase debut, and the French-bred six-year-old should be a fair bit sharper today and is expected to land the spoils, possibly on his way to better things.
Ascoolasice 80-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, lost place and mistake 11th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Snakebite (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f nov chs (4) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Ballybough Jack (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Held up tracking leaders, ridden in 4th when mistake 5 out, weakened and hampered and left 2nd 3 out, hung left soon after and mistake last, 2nd of 10, 24l behind Afrad (11-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Danse Macabre (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Held up in last pair, no chance when hampered 12th, tailed off next, 4th of 6, well behind Idris (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
Dunsfold Duke 9-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 10, 23l behind Tora Bora (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Esprit Saint (FR) 6-4fav (11-7) Held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 25l behind Iron Man (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Guru 11-1 (10-8) Always behind, 13th of 17, 36l behind Overstrand (10-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) hvy in Dec.
Honey's Gift 33-1 (11-2) Prominent and keen, led after 2nd, headed 4th, weakened after 7th, 6th of 8, 37l behind Copper Bay (11-2) at Leicester 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
