took keen hold, soon close up, chased winner 12th until weakened approaching 2 out
mistake 1st, in touch, headway 12th, chased leaders next, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leader, led 6th, made rest, in command before last, stayed on well flat
always rear of main group, ridden and not fluent 8th, struggling after, tailed off
bumped 1st, chased leaders, slow jump 8th, ridden and struggling 13th, driven and rallied under pressure from 2 out, went poor 4th flat
not fluent, always detached in rear, tailed off when blundered 3 out and pulled up before next
jumped left at some fences, led to 6th, chased winner to 9th, stayed in touch, headway to track leaders 4 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
chased leaders, chased winner 9th to 12th, remained 3rd, weakened 3 out
Disappointingly just the eight runners line up for this beginners' chase but it is a potentially decent contest with several runners having claims including Masked Man, Slash And Burn and Poker De Sivola but it is MASSINI'S MAGUIRE that gets the nod. Not seen out since a well held fourth behind Chief Dan George in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle last year, the Philip Hobbs-trained gelding now makes his debut over fences but he has always looked a chaser in the making and is taken to make a winning debut over the larger obstacles. Hill Forts Timmy was capable over hurdles but disappointed in his last two starts and may now be best watched, while Space Mission has the advantage of having already raced over fences but probably needs to improve to trouble the judge. Alan King's Masked Man looked beaten when falling at the last on his chasing debut at Stratford and of more interest may be Charlie Swan's Slash And Burn, who ran well here behind Psychomodo last time. Ferdy Murphy's Poker De Sivola was just behind in third place that day and there should not be much to choose between the two again here but preference is for Massini's Maguire.
Hill Forts Timmy 100-1 (10-13) Held up, mistake 7th, struggling after 3 out, 15th of 24, 35l behind Naiad du Misselot (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Masked Man (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, ridden after 2 out, close 2nd when fell 2 out in race won by Crescent Island (11-3) at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Massini's Maguire (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Chased leader, led approaching 2nd, headed 3 out, hit 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 31l behind Chief Dan George (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr '07.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, headway from 11th, ridden after 3 out, went 3rd after next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Psychomodo (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd.
Present Glory (IRE) 11-4fav (10-6) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, driven and outpaced after next, stayed on at same pace, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Abragante (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr '07.
Rathcannon Man (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Prominent early, behind after 10th, tailed off and pulled up in race won by Exmoor Ranger (11-5) at Exeter 3m beg chs (4) gs in Oct, 11 ran.
Slash And Burn (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Jumped left, chased winner throughout, ridden after 3 out, kept on, always held, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Psychomodo (11-2) at Ascot 2m 3f beg chs (3) gd.
Space Mission (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway 9th (water), led 2nd when hampered 4 out, no impression, 2nd of 10, 9l behind Shining Gale (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
