keen hold, held up in mid-division, mistake 11th, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 11th, weakened after 3 out, blundered last
made most, headed after 4 out, 3rd and held when mistake last
held up in mid-division, headway to chase leaders 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out
in touch until outpaced and lost place 10th, soon well behind
held up in rear, steady headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, hit 3 out, soon beaten
chased leaders, weakened and mistake 11th, tailed off
prominent early, not fluent and lost place 4th, struggling 11th
chased leader until mistake and weakened 11th
slowly away, jumped right and pulled up after 3rd
in rear, reminders 8th, in rear and struggling 11th, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, went 2nd 10th, led after 4 out, mistake and headed 2 out, stayed on same pace after
always behind, ridden and struggling 9th
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
In what will be a good test, Stormy Skye is selected ahead of Tallow Bay, Dr Mann and River Indus. Stormy Skye is now rated 88 and is a course and distance winner from a year ago from a mark of 96. He looked to be coming back to form last time and can go well today. Tallow Bay will handle the going and is only two pounds above a winning mark from February 2006 and his Plumpton run last time suggested that he was on the way back. Ebony Jack is just a pound above a winning mark from February 2006 also, and would hold a chance on that basis. Dr Mann has been knocking at the door as he bids to find that elusive first win, while a nine-pounds rise for his Fontwell win gives Peveril Pride more to do. Finally, theoretically, River Indus is very well treated if you take his third to the very promising novice chaser Classified literally. There are, no doubt, plenty of people that will be doing just that but, for the selection, we will side with Stormy Skye.
Flying Spur (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division until 7th, soon beaten, 7th of 18, 13l behind Parkinson (10-8) at Exeter 2m 6f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
Stormy Skye (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, driven along from 11th, rallied approaching last, staying on when hampered near finish, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Strolling Vagabond (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Aqua Pura (GER) 11-4fav (10-0) Tracked leaders and keen, disputed lead 2 out, clear after 2 out, easily, won at Folkestone 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Don't Ask Me (11-7) by 22l, 9 ran.
Tallow Bay (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) Rear, headway 9th, chased leader 11th, ridden and weakended after 3 out, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Zimbabwe (9-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec.
Ebony Jack (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-0) In touch, ridden after 13th, mistake 15th, weakened next, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Peveril Pride (9-13) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
Dr Mann (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, chased winner from 4 out, ridden 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Superrollercoaster (11-8) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Dec.
Peveril Pride 5-1 (9-13) Always prominent, led 2nd until 4th, led again 4 out, drew clear from next, hit last, comfortably, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec beating Stormy Skye (11-12) by 9l, 7 ran.
Gunship (IRE) 3-1fav (10-4) Held up mid-division, headway 9th, ridden 10th, weakened 13th, 6th of 13, 47l behind Zimbabwe (9-11) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
