in rear, headway 8th, 2nd approaching last, soon every chance, not quicken
held up and keen, headway 5th, mistake 8th, every chance 3 out, hung right from next, weakened after last
held up mid-division, headway 6th, blundered 4 out, soon weakened
always towards rear, mistake 1st, struggling from 6th
in touch, not fluent throughout, struggling from 5th
chased winner until reminders from 6th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, weakened 2 out
made all, ridden approaching last, held on towards finish
With some modest form around and three runners coming back from a lengthy absence it does not take a genius to advise caution when considering a bet here, but if you must then the suggestion is Fabulous Jet to beat Kentmere in a battle of those coming back to the track. Fabulous Jet, trained by Venetia Williams, is very closely matched to Kentmere on hurdles form and was the winner of a Ludlow maiden hurdle in January 2006 but has not been seen for 20 months. If anything like fully wound up here he should go well, and it is his preference for some ease in the ground that gets him the nod. Kentmere clearly prefers a sound surface or faster and the slight disadvantage of those facts in this race means we will just oppose. Quatrain is the third of the trio coming back from a long absense and he has plenty to find with the other pair even if fit and firing, so we'll pass him over, while Castle Frome is another who simply does not look good enough to win if they all run to form. Fencote Gold may be a better proposition at a track where connections do well, but Fabulous Jet is our choice for a contest to be wary of.
Kentmere (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-2) Prominent, ridden and lost place after 5th, well behind after next, 7th of 8, 26l behind Almizan (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f nov hdl (E) gf in Aug '05.
Fabulous Jet (FR) 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division until weakened after 3 out, behind when blundered last, 11th of 14, well behind Wellbeing (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar '06.
Hot Lips Page (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Held up, outpaced in rear 8th, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace, no impression, 5th of 15, 17l behind Solway Sunset (9-7) at Aintree 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in May.
Quatrain (IRE) 13-2 (10-4) Keen, held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 34l behind Magico (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gd in Feb '06.
Castle Frome (IRE) 13-2 (10-10) Led until fell at the 8th in race won by Nemetan (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Roc Tredudon (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along 5th, ridden, weakened next, 10th of 15, well behind Mae Moss (9-11) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf in May.
Norseman Cateline (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Held up, headway 12th, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 10, 22l behind Try (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Oct.
Fencote Gold 25-1 (11-2) Prominent, weakening when left 3rd 4 out, 4th of 8, 21l behind Johnston's Swallow (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in May.
