took keen hold in touch, blundered 8th, went 2nd 3 out, 3 lengths down when blundered badly last, kept on flat, held near finish
always prominent, led 7th, bumped 11th, hit 3 out, in command when idled badly 150 yards from finish, joined and ran on towards finish
held up, blundered 1st, pulled up quickly before 4th
held up, mistake 9th, hit 11th, some headway approaching 3 out, never dangerous
with leader, not fluent 6th, jumped left 11th, lost 2nd and hit 3 out, stayed on flat, no extra final 50 yard
held up towards rear, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up, reminder after 9th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, hit 6th, mistake 7th, lost place after 10th, stayed on from 3 out but not trouble leaders
We'll stick with Soeur Fontenail here ahead of Ballyrobert and Hiers de Brouage. Ballyrobert is now back to near a winning mark and has looked a little bit more like his old self in his last couple of runs, while Soeur Fontenail is just a pound worse off for having beaten Acertack a short head at the latter's favourite track, Plumpton, last time. However, the former could have more improvement in her. Gaora Bridge looked promising in 2004, but has an absence to overcome. Master T looked promising when scoring during the summer but has not looked so good in his last two, while Hiers de Brouage got back to winning ways at Chepstow last time and actually remains on a winning mark so is respected. Another long-time absentee, Victory Roll, is well-weighted on his hurdling form of 2001, while Mercato is on an attractive mark from his 2004 form, but has not shown much of late. Kadito also has a chance on 2003 form but looks out of sorts now. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Soeur Fontenail.
Ballyrobert (IRE) 7-2co-fav (11-6) Led, jumped left from halfway, blundered 3rd, headed 4 out, weakened after next, 5th of 8, 11l behind Lorient Express (10-7) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf in Nov.
Soeur Fontenail (FR) 14-1 (10-5) Tracked leader from 3rd, led before 10th, driven before 2 out, narrowly headed last, rallied gamely to regain lead last stride, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov beating Acertack (10-0) by a shd, 12 ran.
Gaora Bridge (IRE) 2-1fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance when hit last, not quicken, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Gods Token (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (E) gd in May '04.
Master T (USA) 20-1 (11-5) Towards rear when fell at the 4th in race won by Free Gift (11-5) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd, 13 ran.
Hiers de Brouage (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Chased leader, led 8th, ridden 4 out, clear 3 out, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Nov beating The Extra Man (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Acertack (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, chased winner after 10th, challenged 2 out, driven to lead narrowly last, headed last stride, 2nd of 12, shd behind Soeur Fontenail (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov.
Victory Roll 12-1 (11-0) Led 3rd, pushed along after 4 out, ridden when fell 4 out in race won by Mondial Jack (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs (D) gd in Feb '04, 6 ran.
Kadito 50-1 (10-8) Prominent, led 4th to after 6th, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 48l behind Petwick (11-8) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gd in Nov.
Cloudy Blues (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Led to approaching 3rd, prominent until weakened after 7th, 9th of 13, well behind Lord Nellsson (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Nov.
Mercato (FR) 13-2 (10-9) Not fluent, always last, behind from 10th and pulled up at the 12th in race won by Personal Assurance (11-3) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in May, 10 ran.
