held up, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, challenging when not fluent last, led near finish, all out
lead, clear 4 out, hard ridden and under pressure, last, headed near finish
chased leader, 2 lengths down in 3rd when fell 3 out
held up, hit 8th, weakened when hampered 3 out
held up in read, some headway 7th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, weakening when hampered 3 out
took keen hold in rear, weakened from 7th, pulled up before next
held up mid-division, weakened from 5th
held up towards rear, weakened 7th, fell 3 out
An ordinary chase can go the way of recent winner High Calibre with Toulouse Express looking to be the main danger. The selection won in very pleasing fashion just eight days ago, and is turned out under just a 7lb penalty with the hope of going in again. This race looks no better so it should be a fairly straight-forward chance for a horse that looks already a much better chaser than he was hurdler. Toulouse Express has put in two consistent if unspectacular efforts recently and will no doubt find a little race soon enough. However today doesn't appear to be the day as he should struggle to contain High Calibre, and he may be suited by a longer trip than this bare two miles. Filey Flyer would be a danger if improving on his chasing debut when not beaten too far behind the classy Lennon last month, however he may be up against a different class of animal in High Calibre, who ultimately gets the confident vote.
High Calibre (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, led 2 out, clear last, comfortably, won at Folkestone 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs beating Kinkeel (10-0) by 7l, 6 ran.
Aviation 40-1 (10-6) Held up mid-division, outpaced 7th, 5th of 10, 18l behind Lennon (11-12) at Catterick 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Filey Flyer 100-1 (10-9) Chased clear pair, outpaced 7th, rallied 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Lennon (11-12) at Catterick 2m nov chs (3) gs in Dec.
Ton-Chee 25-1 (11-10) Held up, ridden approaching 8th, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 22l behind Emerald Destiny (10-3) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Honest Endeavour 14-1 (10-8) Led to 3 out, soon ridden, weakening approaching last, 8th of 12, 9l behind Sea The Light (11-8) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Close up, chased winner approaching 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1l behind Emerald Destiny (10-3) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Barneys Luck (IRE) 200-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, effort approaching 3 out, soon outpaced, 6th of 18, 49l behind Tidal Bay (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Lagosta (SAF) 20-1 (11-10) In touch, lost place 7th, soon behind, tailed off from 3 out, 13th of 16, well behind Nifty Roy (11-4) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-90 (F) gd in May '05.
