in touch until weakened soon after 3 out
made most, hit 3 out, headed and weakened approaching 2 out
in touch on inside, headway to chase leading pair approaching 2 out, soon one pace and weakened before last
pressed leader and clear on left, still upsides and every chance after 3 out, weakened before next
always behind, ridden and struggling 5th, tailed off
always in rear, lost touch 4th, tailed off
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on run-in but not reached leaders
chased clear leading pair, weakened approaching 2 out, blundered last and soon eased
raced wide, chased leaders, ridden 5th, weakened before next
held up well in rear, still plenty to do 3 out, stayed on from next, chased winner and 4 lengths down last, kept on strongly run-in, not get up
in touch, chased leading pair 3 out, led approaching 2 out, 4 lengths clear last, hard driven and held on well run-in
mid-division, ridden 3 out, no impression and beaten before next
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last
prominent in chasing group until weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, headway to dispute 3rd approaching 2 out, weakened soon after
held up towards rear, headway from 3 out, chased winner 2 out, one pace, no impression and lost 2nd last but kept on for clear 3rd run-in
behind, ridden 3 out, stayed on from next but no danger
behind, moderate effort approaching 2 out
Nonrunner
A cracking renewal here of this ultra-competitive handicap hurdle and many can be given chances on their best form but the principals look to be Afrad, Verasi, Miss Academy, Not Left Yet and Briareus and the vote is given to Afrad. The selection won with a little in hand last time out when beating Only Vintage. That horse has since franked the form and despite his penalty he still looks ahead of the handicapper, especially with conditions very much in his favour. Verasi rates the main danger as he has won his last two races in good style and he beat Cherub last time out. However he is rising in the weights and a combination of this faster ground and his penalty may just find him out. Miss Academy has been well backed all week and is well-weighted on her best form. However it seems significant that the owner's retained Jockey has decided to Ride Not Left Yet, who was slightly disappointing when a well-backed favourite when only second behind Nathos. However he has been freshened up since then and he will not be far away. Briareus was a fair second behind Desert Quest last time and is another that could go well, especially as he looks sure to get the fast pace which always sees him in a better light. Self Defense is another that could go well but he will do well to win under top weight against some less-exposed types. Fenix has dropped to a handy mark and is a viable long shot but for the winner we are happy to return to Afrad.
Self Defense 13-2 (11-7) Held up in 5th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd run-in, 2nd of 7, 12l behind Feathard Lady (11-0) at Sandown 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Admiral (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Led to 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 9, well behind Arcalis (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) sft in Nov.
Chief Yeoman 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, led approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Acambo (10-9) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Fait Le Jojo (FR) 4-1 (11-7) Raced wide, led 2nd, headed 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, 3rd of 9, 1l behind October Mist (9-5) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gd in Nov.
Dalaram (IRE) 50-1 (10-4) Held up in touch, pushed along approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 7th of 19, 10l behind Lingo (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
Fontanesi (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Tracked leader to before 3rd, behind from 5th, soon tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Verasi (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy in Dec, 19 ran.
Cherub (GER) 16-1 (11-4) Held up, steady headway 2 out, soon chased leaders, ridden to lead last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 19, 2 1/2l behind Verasi (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy in Dec.
Cloudy Grey (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Close up and dropped to rear before 5th, soon no chance and hit next, 6th of 7, 37l behind Feathard Lady (11-0) at Sandown 2m hdl Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Verasi 12-1 (10-13) Held up, mistake 3 out and lost several places, headway under strong pressure between last 2, led run-in, driven out, won at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy in Dec beating Cherub (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 19 ran.
Briareus 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 4 out, ridden 2 out, headed flat, rallied and just held near finish, 2nd of 12, hd behind Desert Quest (10-3) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Dec.
Nathos (GER) 9-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 6th, chased winner 2 out, no extra run-in, 2nd of 12, 5l behind Dom d'Orgeval (11-3) at Lingfield 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) sft in Dec.
Desert Air (JPN) 20-1 (11-9) Held up, steady headway from 5th, driven 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Motorway (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Afrad (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked clear leader, closed going well to lead before 2 out, very easily, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec beating Only Vintage (11-12) by 5l, 9 ran.
Handy Money 150-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 2 out, no extra flat, 6th of 19, 9l behind Lingo (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (A) gs in Nov.
All Star (GER) 15-2 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway from 3 out, no extra before next, 5th of 19, 10l behind Verasi (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy in Dec.
Borora 12-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, no impression after 2 out, 6th of 11, 14l behind Motorway (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Miss Academy (FR) Evensfav (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 3rd, ridden and every chance when pecked 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 13, 16l behind Arrayou (11-2) at Worcester 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Apr.
Fenix (GER) 11-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, weakened under pressure approaching next, 8th of 19, 17l behind Verasi (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy in Dec.
Arrayou (FR) 9-1 (10-11) Towards rear, driven along after 4th, weakened after 5th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Acambo (10-9) at Windsor 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Not Left Yet (IRE) 4-7fav (10-4) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, challenged next, one pace from last, 2nd of 15, 2l behind Nathos (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl (B) gs in Nov.
Pepe Galvez (SWE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, hit 6th, kept on under pressure approaching last, one pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Afrad (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
