held up in rear, pushed along 3 out, tailed off from next
held up, headway 4th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, weakened next
raced wide and behind, pushed along 3 out, never on terms
held up, headway after 3 out, stayed on to lead after last, driven clear flat
led, ridden 2 out, headed after last, 3rd and beaten when pulled up near finish, dismounted
saddled slipped after 2nd, in touch, disputed lead 4th, effort 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened after next
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, edged left under pressure flat, left poor 3rd, near finish
tracked leader, pushed along 3 out, kept on and every chance next, ridden and one pace when not fluent last, no extra flat
Nonrunner
Unexplored can make amends for a couple of luckless outings, with Auenmoon, Turbo and Patxaran expected to give him most to do. It has to be said that Unexplored has not impressed totally with his jumping to date, but he would surely have gone close to winning at both Carlisle and Catterick had he stayed upright. On both occasions he was disputing the lead when coming down at the last, and hopefully Howard Johnson's charge will have learnt enough to open his account. The ex-Irish point-to-pointer will not mind the testing conditions and can have no excuses if managing to negotiate the obstacles successfully. Auenmoon will cope with the ground as well, and as he improved markedly to finish second at a big price at Ayr last month, it would be no surprise if he were to take a hand in proceedings. Turbo's biggest payday came in the 2003 November Handicap at Doncaster but he has not had much luck since going hurdling. Now with Mick Easterby, he should not be ruled out, and makes slightly more appeal than Patxaran who has been absent since scoring at Newcastle in November. The vote goes to Unexplored.
Neptune Joly (FR) (10-10) Held up, some late headway, 4th of 18, 7l behind Neptune D'anzy (10-1) at Auteuil 2m 2f chs in Sept.
The Right People (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Towards rear, never dangerous, 9th of 15, 41l behind Alfred The Great (10-12) at Kelso 2m nov hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Turbo (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Behind, headway approaching 2 out, ridden and hung left approaching last, ran on flat, nearest at finish, 3rd of 17, 2l behind Speed Venture (10-2) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd.
Unexplored (IRE) 6-5fav (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, led approaching 8th, challenged when fell at the last in race won by Nine De Sivola (11-3) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Jan, 10 ran.
Patxaran (IRE) 2-1fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, headway 3 out, every chance next, not fluent last, stayed on strongly flat to lead near finish, won at Newcastle 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Nov beating Toss The Caber (10-9) by a nk, 14 ran.
Auenmoon (GER) 80-1 (11-4) Led, ridden 3 out, headed flat, one pace, 2nd of 18, 1l behind Regal Heights (10-13) at Ayr 2m mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Kilmackilloge 20-1 (11-5) In rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Harmony Brig (11-5) at Ayr 2m nh mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Calfraz 14-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, headway 4 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, no impression on 1st two, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Gardasee (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
