chased leaders to 6th, soon lost place, tailed off 3 out
chased leader, chased new leader from 3 out until weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, headway on bit approaching 2 out, upsides 2 out but hanging right, ridden and found little run-in
blundered 1st and 2nd, mid-division, ridden 6th, headway approaching 2 out, kept on, run-in
led, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened soon after
towards rear, never a factor
mid-division, ridden 5th, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on, run-in
held up in rear, steady headway from 3 out, driven to lead 2 out, stayed on under pressure, run-in
galloped loose before start, always in rear, tailed off
in touch, headway to lead and hit 3 out, driven and headed 2 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, weakened approaching 6th, tailed off when pulled up approaching last
behind, ridden after 3 out, never in contention
chased leaders until ridden and weakened after 3 out
in touch, blundered and weakened 3 out, beaten when bumped next
always towards rear, ridden 4th, beaten when jumped left 2 out, blundered last
mistake 1st, behind, driven and headway approaching 2 out, kept on, run-in
Saunders Road can come out on top in a competitive opener; the list of dangers is headed by Arafan and Stolen Moments. The selection returns to this sphere after an unsuccessful spin over the chase fences last time out. He had previously won well over hurdles and although he has yet to prove himself on this ground, he still stands out as the one to beat. Arafan is a consistent type but he has now had 16 chances over hurdles without taking one and although he has gone close on several occasions, the likelihood is that he will again find one too good. Stolen Moments was disappointing last time when his jumping let him down, but he is certainly more than capabe of getting competitive if he can put in a more fluent round of jumping this afternoon. Crafty Leader may need the run on her seasonal reappearance and we will stick with Saunders Road who looks the one to beat.
Island Stream (IRE) 50-1 (11-5) Pulled early and chased leaders, ridden and lost place 4th, tailed off 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Rajam (11-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Orange Street 8-1 (10-13) Prominent, driven 8th, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 12l behind Mister Right (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Oct.
Stolen Moments (FR) 15-2 (10-0) Held up, hit 4th, lost place when hit 5th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Bedlam Boy (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) hvy in Feb, 7 ran.
Clyffe Hanger (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, stayed on, won at Leicester 2m 4f nov hdl (C) gs in Nov '05 beating Ballyshan (10-7) by 6l, 10 ran.
Majy D'auteuil (FR) (10-8) 5th of 8, 11l behind Arapilis (10-12) at Craon 2m 2f hcp chs in Sept '06.
River Ripples (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (11-9) Held up, short-lived effort 11th, weakening when fell 5 out in race won by Killard Point (12-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun, 7 ran.
Arafan (IRE) 10-3 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden and headway 7th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 14l behind Prince De Bersy (11-4) at Exeter 2m 6f amt nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Saunders Road (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Always behind and jumped slowly, tailed off from 4th, 8th of 12, well behind Brown Teddy (11-10) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Mayeul (FR) (10-6) Held up, ridden and kept on from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 18, 10l behind Miescisko (11-0) at Enghien 2m 3f chs hvy in Dec '05.
Salym (FR) 25-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 21, well behind Norton Sapphire (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Feb.
Seven Sky (FR) 10-1 (11-4) Mistake 6th, always in rear, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Tayman (10-6) at Folkestone 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Oct.
Aspra (FR) 11-1 (11-3) Held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 7th, one pace, 5th of 13, 27l behind Desert Tommy (11-8) at Exeter 2m 6f amt hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb '06.
Wild Tonto (IRE) 7-1 (10-4) Racely keenly mid-division, headway when hit 8th, jumped right 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 10, well behind Herecomestanley (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Grouville 14-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 5th, not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Natal (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4yo nov hdl (E) gf in May '05.
Leadaway 13-2 (11-12) In rear, mistake 7th, closer order soon after, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 37l behind Eastern Point (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Dec.
Crafty Lady (IRE) 10-1 (9-12) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 2 out, led last, stayed on, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f cnd sll hdl (4) gd in Aug beating Thimblesfirth (10-2) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
