made most until headed briefly 2 out, driven out
held up towards rear, weakened from 6 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased winner, led briefly 2 out, one pace
held up, chased leading pair from 4 out, no impression
tracked leaders, weakened from 13th
held up in rear, weakened from 13th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, ridden 13th, weakened approaching 5 out
MOUSTIQUE DE L'ISLE is sure to be popular with punters in the finale, and we will side with him to get the better of Huckleberry and Beau Saddler. The selection won well last time when beating What A Scientist, and the form has since been franked. He will love this ground and he should prove hard to beat. Huckleberry fell last time out, but prior to that he had won well at Hexham and a reproduction of that effort from this improver would make him competitive. However, he has since gone up in the weights. Beau Saddler has yet to win a race and he is hard to back with confidence. He should come on for his pipe opener last time and he should also go on the ground but he will need to find improvement to win this. Shulmin might struggle to get home over this trip on such testing ground, and we will stick with Moustique de L'Isle who has rock solid form.
Moustique de L'Isle (FR) 10-3 (11-3) 2nd of 5, 3l behind What A Scientist (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Oct.
Beau Saddler 8-1 (11-3) Prominent to 11th, soon behind, 5th of 8, well behind Ryminster (11-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct.
Huckleberry (IRE) 3-1fav (10-7) Chased leader, ridden, 2 lengths down when fell 4 out in race won by Ryminster (11-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct, 8 ran.
Shulmin 17-2 (11-1) Towards rear when fell at the 4th in race won by Seek The Truth (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct, 11 ran.
Strolling Vagabond (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, pushed along after 6th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Syncopated Rhythm (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Oct, 16 ran.
Smart Thinker 16-1 (10-8) Held up, effort 10th, outpaced 14th never on terms, 5th of 17, 24l behind Old Noddy (10-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr '07.
Super Boston 250-1 (10-7) Led to 6th, weakened from 10th, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind According To Pete (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs in Oct.
