The winning run of Toulouse Express has to come to an end at some point and we hope it's today in siding with GRAND UNION ahead of Of Course. Martin Todhunter's charge remains a maiden but hasn't had many chances as this will be his eighth start. The gelding's fourth last time showed signs of promise and this six-year-old with time on his side may improve significantly for racing on ground with some cut. If he does, a mark of 94 might prove generous and Graham Lee is a strong jockey booking. Toulouse Express bids for the hat-trick here and must be respected of course, but the race in which he scraped home last time didn't appear strong and a further hike in the weights might find him out. At 11-years-old, his winning run should come to an end soon and now seems the time to oppose him. Of Course brings reasonable claims to the table too; he's up 4lbs for a course and distance win last time but this race doesn't look much stronger and it may be significant that his record here reads 2-2-1. Pamak D'airy copes with these conditions but may want it a bit quicker so shouldering top weight to victory might be too much to ask. Euro American has a course and distance win off two stone higher to his name but that's a rapidly fading memory and recent efforts have been poor, so of more interest is the comparatively unexposed Forty Five who has been dropped in both weights and class. Baltic Pathfinder has plenty to find with Toulouse Express on their December running despite the weights turnaround and Teenando was a fortunate third last time, although the drop back in distance may be of some assistance. This is another difficult puzzle to solve but a chance is taken on Grand Union.
Pamak D'airy (FR) 9-4fav (11-5) With leader, led 6th, hard pressed 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, 3rd and no impression when left 6 lengths 2nd last, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Blacks Bridge (11-3) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
St Killian's Run (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up, outpaced after 5 out, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 41l behind Blacks Bridge (11-3) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Forty Five (IRE) 33-1 (11-3) Hit 10th, always behind, 11th of 13, well behind Noun De La Thinte (10-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan.
Jimmy Bond 50-1 (10-7) Soon behind, some headway 5 out, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Its Teescomponents (10-1) at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Cloudmor (IRE) 9-4fav (12-1) Held up, blundered 4th, reminders and struggling 8th, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Pillaging Pict (10-6) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Dec '07, 6 ran.
Euro American (GER) 25-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 5 out, never on terms, 4th of 12, 24l behind Quito Du Tresor (11-9) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
Of Course (FR) 3-1fav (11-9) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, under pressure last, hard ridden flat, kept on, won at Carlisle 2m 4f am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Nov beating Below The Deck (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Made all, ridden last, stayed on under pressure flat, just held on, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan beating Bobby Gee (11-5) by nk, 10 ran.
Baltic Pathfinder (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Led, headed 6th, tracked leader, ridden after 5 out, lost place next, soon weakened, left 4th last, 4th of 6, 18l behind Blacks Bridge (11-3) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Teenando (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, pushed along 13th, soon lost place, 4th beaten when blundered 4 out, left narrow 25 length down in 2nd next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 31l behind Tank Buster (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Norminster 33-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Berwick Law (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Tranos (USA) 28-1 (10-6) In rear, blundered 5th, weakening when hampered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Carrietau (11-2) at Catterick 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 9 ran.
Grand Union (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, headway and hit 3 out, no impression after, 4th of 11, 5l behind The Snail (11-10) at Musselburgh 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jan.
