always towards rear
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, soon one pace
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, soon one pace
always towards rear, effort after 6, soon lost place and pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 4 out, behind, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened before 4 out
mid-division, ridden and lost place 7th, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and led approaching 3 out, kept on well
soon led, headed approaching 3 out, soon ridden and kept on
towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
Il Penseroso can defy a penalty at the expense of Schinken Otto, Magic Box and Jallastep. Il Penseroso was successful on the last of his Irish starts in March 2005, and the former hunter-chaser went close in that sphere when second under Faye Bramley at Folkestone in May. The eight-year-old failed to win for Paul Blockley though and joined Alison Thorpe after finishing sixth in a selling hurdle at Hereford. She wasted no time in putting him back over fences last week at Market Rasen, where it was clear that he benefited from the strong handling of Richard Johnson as he came home by six-lengths. Tony Dobbin has now been booked to ride, and despite a 7lb penalty, he looks the one to beat. Schinken Otto jumped to his right when making all at Uttoxeter the time before last, and displayed the same kink when beaten at Worcester last time. Going clockwise will be in his favour here, but the ground is plenty fast enough. Magic Box was pulled up at Southwell, and the winner of that race, Bob's Buster, has himself been beaten three times and has topweight into the bargain. Jallastep has won here in the past but is out of form, and for the winner we return to Il Pensoroso.
Bob's Buster 14-1 (10-6) Keen, always behind, 6th of 9, 18l behind Kety Star (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf.
Henrianjames 5-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, not fluent and weakened 2 out, 6th of 14, 15l behind Classic Croco (11-1) at Worcester 2m nov clm hdl (5) gf in Jun.
Jefertiti (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Led to 10th, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 12, 29l behind Lost In Normandy (10-0) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (E) hvy in Dec.
Jallastep (FR) 5-1 (11-4) In touch, lost place approaching 3 out, 5th of 18, 12l behind Fieldsofclover (11-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf in Jun.
Young Chevalier 8-1 (10-3) With leaders until ridden and weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Glengarra (10-5) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Sept, 6 ran.
Dante's Brook (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Led, headed 3 out, weakened between last 2, last of 7, 25l behind Green Finger (10-5) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Jun.
Magic Box 9-2 (10-12) In touch, mistake 2nd, lost place 9th, soon behind and pulled up 3 out in race won by Bob's Buster (11-12) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jun, 13 ran.
Il Penseroso (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Keen, mid division, headway 6th, led after 9th, soon clear, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf beating Swallow Magic (11-5) by 6l, 13 ran.
Schinken Otto (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (10-13) Jumped right, mid-division, headway 8th, weakened 2 out, 6th of 15, 20l behind Corrib Drift (11-4) at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
Power Strike (USA) 50-1 (10-8) Towards rear, headway 9th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Kivotos (11-1) at Southwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Jun, 14 ran.
