led 2nd to 4th, led again 7th, kept narrow advantage, blundered 2 out, soon pressed, ridden and headed last, no extra run-in
behind, blundered 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 2nd, led again 4th until approaching 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
behind, blundered 3rd and 5th, headway 13th, stayed on from 3 out, not pace to reach leaders
chased leaders, blundered 10th and next, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leaders, blundered and weakened 12th, tailed off
held up in rear, blundered 11th, headway when blundered 13th, weakened and blundered 2 out, tailed off
in touch, mistake 2nd, blundered 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
mistakes 5th and 8th, always behind
held up in rear, blundered 6th, steady headway from 13th, chased leaders after 2 out, driven to challenge approaching last, stayed on under pressure to lead run-in
mid-division, hit 2nd, mistake 8th, ridden and hit 12th, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, never going pace to reach leaders
held up in rear, struggling 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, blundered 4 out, challenging after next, led and hit last, headed and no extra run-in
A very competitive event where KHACHATURIAN is the one for us, while Doctor Pat is hugely respected. The latter was a battling winner on soft ground at Sandown last time and this extra furlong will not do his chances any harm, and while there should be some improvement you would be hard pressed to say it will be enough to beat the selection. Donald McCain's runner was eased down and still had 10 lengths to spare over Meanus Dandy at Kempton last time, when he jumped very well out of the soft ground. Given a mark of 129 for this handicap debut, his trainer has not been frightened off, and he looks good enough to take advantage. Bertie May has a penchant for soft ground and two-and-a-half miles, and he does have to prove himself over this far, but he comes here in great form after wins at Exeter and Chepstow which are both stiff tracks, and he should be thereabouts. Ringaroses was last seen landing the odds in a Huntingdon novices' contest in May. He goes well when fresh, but does have it to prove in this ground. Traffic Control is an interesting chase debutant from a reasonable mark and the market should be checked out where this proven soft ground performer is concerned, while Quinz is probably better than he has been able to show over fences so far but has it to do on the track itself, and is not really a backable proposition until we have seen him do so. Jump Jet stays three miles and has won on good to soft, but he was beaten a long way from a 10lb lower mark last time, so we prefer the claims of Khachaturian.
Khachaturian (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, jumped left throughout, led 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on well, won at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gs in Nov beating Meanus Dandy (11-2) by 10l, 10 ran.
Ringaroses Evensfav (10-12) Not jumped well, chased clear leading pair until took closer order 5th, mistake and chased leader 12th, driven and every chance from 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov stks (4) gf in May beating Predateur (11-5) by 2 3/4l, 4 ran.
Jump Jet (IRE) 11-10fav (12-0) Led, headed 6th, remained close up, led again 12th, headed 2 out, soon weakened, 2nd of 7, 17l behind Shaka's Pearl (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Maktu 14-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 4 out, beaten when left 3rd last, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Synchronised (11-2) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) hvy.
Quinz (FR) 10-3 (11-4) Hit 1st, chased leaders, ridden 10th, weakening when fell next, in a race won by Far More Serious (11-4) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gs, 10 ran.
Ajzal (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Always in rear, jumped slowly 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Rivaliste (11-4) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Traffic Control (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Led until after 4 out, weakened after, 6th and no chance when pulled up before last, in a race won by Sergeant Harper (11-3) at Chepstow 3m NH mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar, 15 ran.
Talenti (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, jumped left throughout, slow 5th, soon lost place, weakened before 3 out, last of 5, well behind Manyriverstocross (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) sft.
Award Winner 20-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, ridden and lost touch approaching 12th, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind The Snail (10-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Doctor Pat (IRE) 17-2 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 10th, soon outpaced, rallied and headway after 2 out, ran on strongly flat to lead post, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft beating Rivaliste (11-11) by ns, 8 ran.
Bertie May 11-4fav (10-10) Held up in rear, ridden 7th, headway approaching 4 out, edged left and challenged 2 out, narrow lead before last, strongly pressed flat, driven out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy beating Super Formen (11-12) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Flaco (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Held up in rear, keen hold, headway 9th, jumped right 11th, outpaced 4 out, effort 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 6, 6l behind Temoin (11-12) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Reblis (FR) 16-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway 10th, led after last, hard ridden flat, headed towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Absolute Shambles (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Wychwoods Legend 7-2 (11-4) Led to 4th, tracked leader, not fluent 6th, no extra between last 2, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Carole's Legacy (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f Mares Novice Chase (4yo+) (4) sft.
Quentin D'ex (FR) 17-2 (11-12) Held up on outside, headway 9th, kept on same pace from 3 out, never near leaders, 4th of 10, 27l behind Sagalyrique (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
