with leaders, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out
held up, headway after 5 out, challenged next, every chance 3 out, weakened from 2 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden after 7th, no impression from 3 out
always behind, weakened from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
with leaders, led 4th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden approaching 6th, chased leader approaching 4 out, kept on, no impression from last
led, driven and headed 4th, struggling from next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
soon with leaders, ridden 5th, weakened next
held up, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on approaching last, no impression
Nonrunner
In the penultimate race on the card, Donovan is selected ahead of mainly Hollows Mill and The Miner. Donovan now races from a mark that is four pounds above his winning rating of last October. Given that he has won in cheekpieces, the first-time blinkers today have a chance of working the oracle for him. Hollows Mill is just two pounds above his course and distance winning mark of last March and, even though he has not been running so well lately, he can't be ruled out of a good show. The Miner holds a chance based on the fact that he is back to his December 2004 winning mark. Turning to the others and Alfy Rich has been disappointing since his Hexham win; Bernardon is a light of former years; Tagar's better runs of late give him place claims; Icy River has not run for over two years, although he's reasonably weighted based on his hurdling form; Glenfarclas Boy is capable of running well if in one of his better moods, but Jballingall has not quite built on his course win in April, a similar comment applying to Alfy Rich following his Hexham win. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Donovan.
Alfy Rich 50-1 (10-9) Mid-division, weakened and lost touch after 10th, tailed off, last of 16, well behind Not Today Sir (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Hollows Mill 100-1 (10-3) Mistakes, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by D J Flippance (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec, 10 ran.
Bernardon (GER) 25-1 (10-11) Always behind, weakened 3 out, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Heez A Wonder (10-4) at Leopardstown 2m 5f hcp chs 0-116 sft in Dec.
Tagar (FR) 9-4fav (11-8) Led, headed 11th, remained close up, pushed along 4 out, ridden and one pace from next, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Mikasa (10-11) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
The Frosty Ferret (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 14th, 7th of 13, 42l behind Another Club Royal (10-3) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jan.
Jballingall 7-2jt-fav (10-0) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened from 5 out, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Sound Of Cheers (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Donovan (NZ) 3-1 (11-7) With leaders, outpaced when hit 8th, beaten when blundered 3 out, 4th of 7, 22l behind Whaleef (11-12) at Catterick 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jan.
Glenfarclas Boy (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, mistake 4th, not fluent 9th, ridden after 4 out, stayed on to chase winner after last, one pace, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Bob's Buster (11-12) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jan.
