chased leaders, blundered 7th, ridden and effort 5 out, driven from one pace 2 out
led, ridden and headed 11th, soon beaten
tracked leaders, ridden 5 out, one pace from 2 out
tracked leader, led 11th, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened
in touch, ridden to lead approaching 4 out, kept on well
mid-division, headway 5 out, driven and soon beaten
held up, blundered 5 out, never dangerous
held up, behind from 11th, pulled up before 4 out
Howard Johnson could be enjoying a quick fire double with the vote going to TIDAL BAY with State of Play and Ollie Magern looking the main danger in a peach of a race. The runner up in the Tingle Creek, Tidal Bay, is quite simply the best horse in the race. He wasn't at his fluent best at Sandown but the form will undoubtedly stood up and it's very difficult to see anything beating him despite the stable's star having to concede weight all-round. State Of Play will be looking to take advantage of the fact he will be receiving a stone from the favourite. He'll probably have to improve on his Charlie Hall Chase win over course and distance to get his head in front but Evan Williams' charge is well placed to take advantage of any mishaps surrounding the selection. The best chance for Ollie Magern to spring a surprise is for him to be at his enthusiastic front running best. He has some form to over turn on State Of Play, finishing behind him in the Charlie Hall, but if he gets out in front he could gallop a few of these into defeat. Peter Montieth's Standin Obligation was lacking a little fitness on his seasonal reappearance last time but still managed to land second place. He'll be a lot sharper for the run and will be more of a threat while a return to form for Cloudy Lane could have him close but it's hard to see anything other than Tidal Bay taking this race.
Tidal Bay (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Left in lead 1st, 2 after next, chased winner to 5th, remained handy, ridden after 10th, kept on to take 2nd, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Master Minded (11-7) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 1 (1) gs.
Ollie Magern 25-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, behind from 5 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, well behind Snoopy Loopy (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Nov.
Cloudy Lane 16-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden after 5 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 6, 13l behind Snoopy Loopy (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Nov.
Mister McGoldrick 20-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on flat, not reach leaders, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Monet's Garden (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) gs.
Nozic (FR) 9-1 (10-1) unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Knowhere (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct, 12 ran.
State of Play 5-2fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, blundered 3 out, driven to lead flat, won at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Nov beating Ollie Magern (11-10) by 1l, 6 ran.
Standin Obligation (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up, headway when hit 6 out, led approaching 3 out, headed appoaching last, one pace, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Merigo (10-4) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft.
Borora 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, mistake 4 out, soon struggling, stayed on approaching last, no chance, 5th of 17, 20l behind Hoopy (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Nov.
