always prominent, mistake 1st, jumped left 7th, led 3 out, headed next, weakened after last
held up in rear, slow 8th, not fluent 5 out, headway after 3 out, never on terms
held up in touch, under pressure 4 out, soon lost place, weakening when mistake 2 out
mid-division, pushed along 4 out, soon no impression
raced towards rear, some late headway, never on terms
behind, until moderate late headway, never dangerous
held up towards rear, headway 11th, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, kept on under pressure, never reached winner
led, mistake and headed 3 out, rallied approaching last, no extra flat
raced in rear, mistake 3rd, weakened before 10th
behind, headway approaching 7th, soon under pessure and weakened
chased leaders, led 2 out, soon hard ridden, stayed on well towards finish
Abbey Dore is creeping up the weights but began his winning run here in March and has clearly improved since. Fleur De Vassy is unexposed over the larger obstacles, as is Hereford third Mujamead. Bobby Donald was sent off favourite at Lingfield last month and jockey bookings suggest he'll be the pick of Richard Phillips' pair here but we fancy LOCO GRANDE to take advantage of a lenient mark over fences in the near future and Richard Johnson's presence in the saddle here is a positive sign.
Fleur de Vassy 15-8fav (9-8) Tracked leaders, chased winner 3 out, jumped left 2 out, no impression before last, no extra flat, 4th of 7, 6l behind Take It There (11-5) at Hereford 2m 5f mares hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Loco Grande (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner after 11th, blundered 3 out, soon beaten, 4th of 6, 21l behind Cold Harbour (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m 3f am hcp ch 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Oponce (FR) 11-1 (11-8) Held up, ridden along and last pair 6th, headway from after 4 out to poor 3rd 3 out, not fluent last 2, 3rd of 7, 31l behind Ponchatrain (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Nov.
Mujamead 14-1 (11-7) Prominent, tracked leader 3rd, mistake 6th, beaten after 3 out, stayed on same pace, left 3rd last, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Bedarra Boy (11-9) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Stop The Show (IRE) 13-2 (10-3) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway approaching 3 out, no impression, 6th of 12, 18l behind Petroupetrov (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Brushford (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) In touch, headway to 4th and pushed along 8th, soon lost place, tailed off 11th, pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Shannons Boy (11-4) at Chepstow 3m hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Abbey Dore (IRE) 5-2fav (10-9) Held up, went 3rd 6th, left 2nd when hampered 10th, led approaching 2 out, driven and held on gamely flat, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov beating Flying Squad (11-12) by 1l, 6 ran.
Bobby Donald (IRE) 4-1fav (11-8) In touch, hit 5th, dropped to last and struggling 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Ponchatrain (11-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Nov.
Curragh Dancer (FR) 11-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 8th, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Pete The Feat (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) hvy in Nov.
Aspolan (GER) 10-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, went 5th 9th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Rebel Rock (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 7 ran.
Marias Rock 16-1 (11-8) With leader, ridden 3 out, weakening approaching last, 4th of 18, 21l behind Dizzy Future (11-4) at Hereford 3m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Apr '09.
