held up, mistake 7th and 10th, headway to take close order 4 out, soon ridden and weakened from next
with leader, pushed along 10th, ridden 4 out, weakened from 2 out
tracked leaders, fell 2nd
led to 8th, weakened from 3 out
tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3 out, driven out
held up in rear, mistake 5th, pushed along and reminders after next, never dangerous after
Nonrunner
In the opener, Jimmy Bond gets the call over Dead Mans Dante but there are others that could well go well too. Jimmy Bond was beaten by a well-handicapped runner in Dun Doire on his return from an absence and, if he can avoid the dreaded "bounce" factor, looks set to go well. The sole course and distance winner in the line-up, Spring Gamble, needs a career best in order to score, while Dead Mans Dante's novice form is good enough to earn him consideration. Rare Society has finished second in all four starts to date and warrants consideration on his handicap debut, while Corroboree looked very promising back in 2003 and the market should tell its own story. Assumetheposition is on a handy mark based on hurdling form, but Gay Kindersley has something to find based on what's been shown so far. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Jimmy Bond.
Italiano 12-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden 9th, under pressure when unseated rider 5 out in race won by Classic Capers (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f beg chs (E) gs, 11 ran.
Spring Gamble (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Led to after 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, well behind Dun Doire (10-1) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) sft.
Rare Society (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Tracked leaders, headway to lead after 4 out, driven 2 out, ridden flat, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 14, shd behind Theatre Knight (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 5f mdn chs (E) gs in Nov.
Corroboree (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) Led to 7th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out, 10th of 13, well behind Vicario (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft.
Assumetheposition (FR) 14-1 (10-12) Held up, chased winner 3 out until next, weakened approaching last, 4th of 12, 19l behind Brandy Wine (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 7f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Nov.
Jimmy Bond 12-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, challenged when hit 3 out, ridden to lead next, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Dun Doire (10-3) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Nov.
Gay Kindersley (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Held up, blundered 9th, went lame and pulled up at the 10th in race won by Florida Dream (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd, 12 ran.
Dead Mans Dante (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 22l behind Pass Me A Dime (11-3) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
