soon tracking leaders, led 4th, clear from 8th, ridden and stayed on well from last
held up, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 11th, chased winner next, hit 2 out, stayed on from last
led to 3rd, in touch, weakened approachined 12th, pulled up before 4 out, tailed off
held up, weakened from 11th
held up, weakened from 10th, tailed off
held up behind, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
tracked winner until 12th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, hit 2nd, blundered 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up after 3 out, dismounted
tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed and blundered and unseated rider 4th
tracked leaders, outpaced approaching 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, no impression 5th
Stroom Bank is the selection to get the better of Bestofthebrownies and Cardinal Spirit in an intriguing contest. Cardinal Spirit represents Ferdy Murphy here and although the yard is yet to really strike form, he has shown improvement in his two races to date. Well beaten on his debut in a bumper, he ran much better behind Orpen Wide in a decent novice hurdle at Haydock next time. He may come into his own over the bigger obstacles and in this race of little substance he cannot be discounted. Bestofthebrownies has not won to date but has shaped with promise both in Irish bumpers and hurdle contests over here. He has not run since May and his fencing ability has to be taken on trust so he may be worth taking on. Stroom Bank shaped well on his first outing over fences at Towcester recently, only run out of it on the stiff uphill climb to the finish. He can put that experience to good use here on this slightly easier track and Stroom Bank can come out on top.
Atura Gatti 50-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 18, well behind Tidal Bay (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Bestofthebrownies (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Held up, headway to chase leaders 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Panzer (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Devil's Perk (IRE) 5-4fav (12-5) 2nd of 13, 4l behind Sweeping Storm (12-5) at Witton Castle 3m ptp gd in May '04.
Mistermagicman (IRE) 22-1 (11-3) Blundered and unseated rider in race won by Ungaro (11-6) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Oct, 8 ran.
Silver Chancelor (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 19, 50l behind Canada Street (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 7f mdn hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Spectrum Star 33-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Tee-Jay (11-0) at Hexham 3m 1f chs 0-90 (5) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Stroom Bank (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, disputed lead 3 out, left in lead soon after, all out when headed after last, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Jam Packed (10-9) at Towcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Cardinal Spirit 100-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 15, 27l behind Orpen Wide (11-1) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
