made all, hit 2 out and last, ridden out
held up, headway 6th, slightly outpaced after 3 out, stayed on from last, went 3rd near finish
tracked leaders, joined winner 6th, ridden after 3 out, held when hit last, lost 2nd, lost 3rd near finish
tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, stayed on
held up behind leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
tracked winner, hit 6th, soon weakened
Deep Purple looks to be a very smart recruit to the National Hunt game and can maintain his progress by taking this good prize at the main expense of Golden Alchemist, Willie Pep and Song Of Songs. The selection loves a sound surface and this trip and goes for a five timer here after landing novices' hurdles at Stratford, Newton Abbot, Exeter and most recently Kempton, where he stayed on strongly. This stiffer track should suit and he can score. Golden Alchemist is a decent sort and acts on most ground. He was turned over under a penalty last time and will have to improve to take this. Willie Pep drops back in trip and that is not certain to suit, and like A P McCoy we prefer the chances of Song Of Songs, who put in a very good reappearance effort and could prove to be the big danger. Sir Harry Ormesher is not without a chance from an in-form yard, but Deep Purple is the one they all have to beat and he gets the vote.
Deep Purple 6-4 (11-8) Led, mistake and headed 4 out, stayed challenging, joined leader and mistake 2 out, led before last, driven and stayed on gamely flat, won at Kempton 2m lst nov hdl (1) gd in Oct beating French Opera (11-6) by 2l, 8 ran.
Golden Alchemist 7-4fav (11-8) Chased leader, hard ridden to lead 2 out, soon headed and hung right, mistake last, no extra, 3rd of 6, 1l behind Classic Gold (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) frm in Nov.
Sir Harry Ormesher 9-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, led 3 out, wandered slightly approaching 2 out, driven and stayed on well flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m hdl (2) gd in Nov beating Rapid Increase (11-5) by 3l, 8 ran.
Willie Pep (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway 6th, mistake and weakened 2 out, 5th of 18, 17l behind Mount Oscar (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Celtic Spirit (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (8-11) Mid-division, headway over 3f out to join leader over 2f out, soon ridden, led inside final furlong, kept on gamely, won at Salisbury 1m 2f hcp 0-95 (3) gs in Jun beating Oh Glory Be (9-1) by 1l, 8 ran (Flat).
John Terry (IRE) 22-1 (8-10) Chased leaders, outpaced over 2f out, 12th of 21, 10l behind Malt Or Mash (8-10) at Doncaster 1m 4f hcap (2) gf in Nov (Flat).
Song of Songs 5-4fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders from next, edged right from 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 14, 1l behind County Zen (11-0) at Ascot 2m hdl (2) gd in Nov.
