mid-division, not fluent 9th, headway approaching 4 out, hanging left when chased winner last, kept on flat
in touch, mistake 5th, pushed along after 8th, losing place when hampered 11th, soon behind
pressed winner until approaching 3 out, weakened quickly before next
mid-division, not always fluent, reminders after 8th, mistake 10th, lost touch from next
made all, blundered 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on well
held up towards rear, hampered 11th, headway approaching 4 out, close 4th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
in rear, jumped left 3rd, pushed along after 7th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, weakened 2 out
in rear, never really going, hit 9th, jumped left next, never dangerous
chased leaders, jumped slowly 4th, weakened after 2 out
prominent, raced keenly, close 4th when fell 11th
raced keenly, tracked leaders, mistake 5th and 11th, chased winner approaching 3 out, lost position when jumped slowly last, one pace flat
mistakes, always in rear
Bantry Bere looks the pick of the pair of two runners in the race trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and he has been given a chance by the handicapper but marginal preference in a competitive contest is for MALAKIYA, who gets the verdict ahead of Michigan D'Isop. The last mentioned stayed on well when successful at Bangor last week and he has to be considered under a 7lb penalty. Jim Old's Team Chaser has more to do than when landing a novices' handicap at Towcester last time and he looks best left out of calculations today. Colin Tizzard's Wise Men Say has run well over hurdles in his last two starts and could be of interest on his first start over fences having been pulled up on his debut almost a year ago. The Apprentice may struggle to give weight away all round here and of more interest may be Sue Smith's Work Boy, who is lightly raced and attractively weighted under just 10st 6lb. Preference though is for Jonjo O'Neill's Malakiya who was good value for his win in a selling hurdle at Ludlow when last seen in October. He may do better now switched back over fences and from a stable that is in good form at present, he looks worth chancing.
The Apprentice (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, 8 lengths clear, ran green and went right 2 out, soon ridden, went right last, soon headed, no extra, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Galaxy Rock (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Bantry Bere (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Mid-division, behind when hampered and unseated rider 6 out, in a race won by According To Pete (10-13) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Nov, 15 ran.
Mister Wiseman 7-1 (10-12) With clear leader, led 9th, ridden 2 out, headed last, weakened flat, 3rd of 4, 10l behind Ringaroses (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov stks (4) gf.
Malakiya (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Always handy, left 2nd after 8th, led just after 3 out, came clear from 2 out, won at Ludlow 2m 5f sell hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Another Native (10-12) by 12l, 16 ran.
Gleann An Sagart 14-1 (11-10) Led until 4 out, soon ridden, regained 2nd after 3 out, held from next, 2nd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Keepitsecret (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf.
Michigan d'Isop (FR) 18-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 11th, led 2 out, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs beating Ice Bucket (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 15 ran.
I'm A Legend 12-1 (11-12) Behind, always behind, jumped badly left and dropped to rear 9th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 5th of 9, well behind Fire And Rain (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Beyond Redemption (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) With leaders until after 8th, weakened 3 out, last of 17, well behind Picture This (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
On Spec 14-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, struggling 13th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Alfadora (10-13) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd, 9 ran.
Wise Men Say (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Prominent, ridden and led 2 out, headed last, no extra flat, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Boogie Dancer (10-13) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Work Boy 3-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 7th, chased winner 3 out, not fluent next, kept on, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Buckland Gold (11-10) at Market Rasen 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 18-1 (10-13) Held up, headway 11th, ridden and blundered 12th, every chance last, no extra, 2nd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Aheadofhistime (11-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Pelo Du Bief (FR) 15-8 (10-5) Tracked leading pair, ridden to join winner 14th until outpaced by winner 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 3, 17l behind Badger (10-9) at Fakenham 3m nov stks (3) gf.
Team Chaser (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Jumped left 1st, led 2nd to 4th, remained prominent, bumped 9th, pushed along after 4 out, ridden after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led flat, stayed on under pressure, won at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr beating Stop The Show (11-5) by 4l, 7 ran.
