held up in rear, mistake and unseated rider 4 out
tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, weakened next
tracked leader, left in lead 2nd, headed 11th, soon weakened
led, mistake and unseated rider 2nd
tracked leaders, led 11th, clear after next, not fluent last, eased near finish
behind, mistake 7th, soon beaten, pulled up 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 7th, soon beaten
behind, headway halfway, soon chasing clear winner, no impression
There's little to separate the leading protagonists here but conditions look set to favour DARSTARDLY DICK more than Tot Of The Knar and Ginolad so he gets the call. Victor Dartnall's gelding was sent over fences for the first time at Stratford having disappointed over hurdles this year. Rated 122 over the smaller obstacles at his best, there should be more to come from him and he did well to score last time having taken time to warm to his jumping. A winner on quick ground and with the speed for this trip, he's the one to beat despite the penalty. Tot Of The Knar gets weight from all bar one of her rivals being one of only two mares in the field. She ran with credit in a decent mares' only race last time and has claims, but most of her best efforts have come on softer ground. Ginolad won on his first start for current connections having arrived from Australia. Again, he'd prefer a bit of cut but did win on good ground on the flat and has claims. Jim Tango was handed the race last time and can be taken on along with Kack Handed who rates a couple of pounds below some of these and may find a few too good. This isn't a bad novices' chase for the time of year and it may go to Victor Dartnall's Darstardly Dick.
Darstardly Dick (IRE) 13-8 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, led approaching last, kept on well 9no time taken), won at Stratford 2m 5f beg chase (4) gf in Mar beating Lord Brunello (11-0) by 9l, 3 ran.
Ginolad (AUS) 7-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, in rear from 5th, went 3rd approaching 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 49l behind Heez A Steel (10-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy.
Jim Tango (FR) 9-4 (10-9) Took keen hold, led until after 1st, led 3rd, jumped left 8th and 4 out, ridden and headed when mistake 2 out, 4 lenghts down when left well clear last, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gs beating Cockatoo (10-12) by 18l, 6 ran.
Kack Handed 11-2 (10-12) Held up in rear and keen, good headway to lead 4th, headed approaching 10th, weakened after 5 out, left poor 2nd next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Latanier (11-8) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft.
Otage De Brion (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, pushed along before 5th, behind when pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Galaxy Rock (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
This Way (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, keen hold, led 4th, pushed along and headed approaching 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 17l behind Chilbury Hill (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Miss Phoebe (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, struggling next, eased from 2 out, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Zabeel Palace (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Tot Of The Knar 12-1 (10-0) Jumped left in rear, mistake 1st, hit 6th, headway 4 out, no impression on leaders 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Double Hit (10-0) at Newbury 2m 6f mrs lst nov hcp chs (5yo+) (1) sft in Mar.
