with leader when fell 1st
jumped right, not always fluent, led, left well clear 1st, mistake 2nd, reduced advantage after 14th, headed 3 out, weakened 2 out, left 2nd when hampered by faller last
tracking leaders when hampered 1st, chased clear leader after 3rd, not fluent 12th, closed after 14th, led 3 out, ridden after 2 out, 2 lenghts ahead when fell last
not fluent 1st, chased clear leader approaching 2nd until after next, last 7th, behind from 9th, tailed off, left poor 3rd last
left chasing clear leader 1st until before next, held up, went 3rd 7th, closed after 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, switched left and 2 lenghts down when left well clear last
POKER DE SIVOLA is likely to be a warm order against Passport Control and Vforvictory. Tried at top grade, it remains one of racing's mysteries as to why Ferdy Murphy's charge is still a maiden over chase fences. This will be no gimme but in receipt of 5lbs from almost every rival, it would be bitterly disappointing were he not good enough to win this. Passport Control won a real non-event at Wetherby. He looked a little burly in the paddock on that occasion so he should have come on plenty for that effort. Vforvictory won a maiden chase at Sedgefield in decisive fashion. A winning pointer, that really should have been no surprise to all concerned. Description is proven on soft going and appears likely to assume the front running duties today. Doodlebop faces a stiff examination based on the official BHA figures. A fair race for a start of the week card and Poker De Sivola can finally shed the unfortunate tag of the best maiden chaser in training.
Description (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Led until after 1st, tracked leaders until outpaced 8th, rallied after 3 out, not much room when weakening 2 out, 3rd of 10, 13l behind Tarateeno (10-2) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Passport Control 11-4 (11-2) Disputed lead until weakened after 5 out, left in lead after next, finished alone, won at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 3 ran.
Vforvictory (GER) 2-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, in touch 12th, led 16th, drew clear from 2 out easily, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f mdn chs (4) sft in Jan beating Work Boy (11-0) by 18l, 11 ran.
Doodlebop (IRE) 22-1 (11-1) Tracked winner when fell 6th, in a race won by Knockara Beau (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f nov chs (2) sft in Dec, 4 ran.
Poker De Sivola (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Held up, headway after 4 out, weakened from last, 5th of 9, 50l behind L'aventure (10-11) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.
