prominent, ridden 6th, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden headway 6th, weakened after 3 out
in touch, headway after 6th, ridden after 3 out, chased winner 2 out, rallied and stayed on flat, nearest finish
pulled hard mid-division, ridden 6th, weakened before 3 out
held up in touch, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, stayed on one pace
held up in mid-division, headway after 5th, weakened 3 out
chased leader, led before 3rd, clear 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, driven out flat
prominent, ridden 6th, stayed on from, 2 out, nearest finish
pulled hard early, prominent, ridden 6th, soon weakened
led to 3rd, chased winner, ridden and mistake 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
always behind, mistake 6th, soon weakened
always behind, mistake 1st, weakened 5th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, ridden 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
Philip Hobbs saddles the newcomer French Guest, a maiden on the Flat who has not been seen since running at Wolverhampton in October. Karency also sees a flight of obstacles for the first time but is related to numerous winners in France, and was unplaced in three non thoroughbred events on the Flat in the Provinces. Misty Future and Nonantais will have to improve a bit, a comment that also applies to Mister Magnum, well behind on his introduction here last time. Although it is decidedly dodgy nominating a newcomer as the selection, Man O¿Mystery would not have to be a world-beater to make a winning start. Paul Webber¿s six-year-old has run with credit on the Flat since winning a Leicester maiden for Jeremy Noseda two years ago. He was only beaten a head in the John Smith¿s Cup at York the same year, in addition to finishing a gallant fourth in the Tote Cambridgeshire. A winner at Newbury in the summer, he was last seen when contesting a Listed race on the Lingfield Polytrack. Although not exactly bred for the winter game, he is an interesting recruit at this level and could easily make a winning start.
