tracked leaders, pushed along after 10th, weakened approaching 4 out, fell 3 out
chased winner until after 4th and again after 9th until approaching 4 out, soon well held in 3rd, one pace
in rear, not fluent 5th, soon ridde and lost touch, pulled up before 9th
made all, drew clear approaching 2 out, easily
in touch, not much room and lost lost action briefly after 4th, soon chasing winner, lost 2nd after 9th, blundered 12th, chased winner again before 4 out, no impression after 3 out
prominent, lost place and pushed along after 4th, behind 9th, well tailed off 13th
held up in rear, behind from 10th, tailed off
PHIDIPPIDES faces little in the way of realistic opposition and should be hard to beat on his second outing over fences. He was beaten by a potentially decent recruit at Exeter and not too much should be read into the winner's subsequent poor performance. Phidippides was head and shoulders above his opponents over hurdles and there should be a similar gap between them over fences. Sandynow is feared most but he has something to prove after losing his way last term unlike Celticello who has been running well enough over hurdles prior to this first run over fences. Shoudhavenownbettr has won an Irish point so appeals as the most interesting of the remainder.
Celticello (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace under pressure, no impression with leading pair, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Rathcor (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Gentleman Anshan (IRE) 66-1 (10-3) Rear, headway 12th, chased leaders 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, until weakened before last, 6th of 9, 20l behind Cannon Bridge (10-3) at Stratford 2m 7f hunt chs (5) gf in May.
Harry Oscar (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) In touch, outpaced before 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Cotswold Charmer (10-9) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Phidippides (IRE) 2-1 (11-1) Took keen hold in 3rd, went 2nd after 6th, soon challenging, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, bumped soon after last, stayed on, always being held, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Rock Noir (11-1) at Exeter 2m 1f nov chs (2) gs.
Sandynow (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, blundered 1st, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled before next, in a race won by Kennel Hill (11-1) at Ludlow 3m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr, 7 ran.
Shoudhavenownbettr (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden approaching 8th, struggling from next, 6th of 10, 50l behind Made In Time (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Youandme (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 7th, headed after next, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, last of 4, well behind Natureofthebeast (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
