chased leaders, close 2nd when unseated rider 9th
led, headed approaching 4th, regained lead 5th, ridden approachng 2 out, stayed on well
held up, headway approaching 14th, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 15th, not fluent 5 out, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, headway 6th, hit 15th and went 2nd, every chance after 3 out, weakened approaching last
held up, weakened 13th, pulled up before 16th
held up, headway approaching 15th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, chased winner last, rider lost whip flat, not able to challenge winner
held up towards rear, pushed along 15th, never dangerous
chased leaders, led approaching 4th, headed 5th, left 2nd 9th, weakened 16th
chased leaders, pushed along and lost place 12th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, pushed along and weakened from 16th, pulled up before 3 out
held up mid-division, lost place 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, tailed off
Nonrunner
A marathon event can be taken by NEW PERK while Moustique De L'Isle is very much respected. Sean Curran does well with his string and New Perk pulverised the opposition over 3m 4f at Wincanton last time. Fortunately the handicapper did not take his 51 length win literally and an 8lb rise is the sensible option, meaning that we can back him to follow up here on ground that suits. Moustique De L'Isle is 7lb higher than when holding on grimly to win over the same trip at Carlisle. Conditions again suit and there is no reason why he can't get heavily involved again. The Gangerman is 8lb higher than when winning at Carlisle on heavy in October but was anchored off a similar mark last time and his task does not look easy. Finzi is 4lb higher than when scoring over course and distance in February and he has the testing ground he loves, so a win would be no surprise for this dour stayer. House Of Bourbon makes his chasing debut for the in-form Tim Vaughan and this trip might enable him to find more improvement. Provided he jumps well against seasoned handicappers he could be a major threat, but preference for this race lies with New Perk.
Pangbourne (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, reminders 8th, mistake when held 3 out, 4th of 6, well behind Gone To Lunch (11-2) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gd in Nov.
Bannister Lane 10-1 (10-13) Led to 11th, weakened from 12th, 7th of 12, well behind See You There (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Le Briar Soul (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, blundered and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Mistress Nell (10-7) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov, 18 ran.
Money Line (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 11th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 4 out, weakened quickly 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Deep Quest (10-11) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft, 14 ran.
House Of Bourbon (IRE) 11-4fav (11-9) Held up, reminders 5th, headway 8th, ridden 3 out, chased clear winner from 2 out, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Coda Agency (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
Rajam 13-2 (11-4) Towards rear, some headway on inside after 6th, steadied, headway again 9th, tracked leader 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 10, 13l behind Tastes Like More (10-2) at Hereford 3m 2f sll hdl (5) gs.
Hidden Bounty (IRE) 13-2 (11-0) Held up, headway 13th, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 12, 6l behind King Barry (11-8) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov.
New Perk (IRE) 15-2 (10-0) In touch, left in lead 14th, shaken up 3 out, soon clear, easily, won at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov beating Elsie's Pride (11-2) by a distance, 7 ran.
Finzi (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, weakened from 12th, tailed off when pulled up at the 16th in race won by Black Apalachi (10-5) at Aintree 3m 2f lst hcp chs (1) hvy in Nov, 13 ran.
Moustique de L'Isle (FR) 6-4fav (11-12) Made all, challenged 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, won at Carlisle 3m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov beating Huckleberry (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Waking Ned (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Mid-division, reminders after 2nd, headway 6th, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Deep Quest (10-11) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft, 14 ran.
Heros Collonges (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Prominent, lost place 4 out, ridden and no impression approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 8l behind Shulmin (10-12) at Sedgefield 3m 3f cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Nov.
Change Agent 25-1 (9-11) Chased leader, ridden before 4 out, lost 2nd after 3 out, no chance when left poor 2nd 2 out until between last 2, 3rd of 10, 30l behind Little Shilling (10-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft.
The Gangerman (IRE) 5-2fav (10-10) Mid-division, headway after 5 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 23l behind See You There (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
