led to 11th, ridden 14th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden after 4 out, weakened 3 out
mistakes, always behind, lost touch from 11th, tailed off
prominent, stumbled 1st, mistakes, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake 4 out, soon struggling, stayed on approaching last, no chance
held up towards rear, stumbled 1st, headway after 15th, every chance after 2 out, weakened flat
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakened before 3 out
held up, hit 9th, always in rear
held up in rear, hit 3rd, blundered 5th, rider took whip off opposing jockey approaching 3 out, headway before 2 out, went 3rd last, led flat, stayed on well
held up well in rear, headway approaching 3 out, 5th and staying on when fell 2 out
mid-division, ridden when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
prominent, stumbled 1st, ridden 11th, weakened 13th, hit next, pulled up after 4 out
chased leaders, challenged 4 out, still every chance when mistake 2 out, weakened approaching last
with leader, not fluent 7th, led 11th, not fluent 4 out, ridden 2 out, edged right after last, soon headed, no extra towards finish
mid-division, blundered 14th, hit next, headway before 4 out, soon ridden and struggling
in touch, mistake 9th and 14th, weakened after 2 out
always in rear, hampered 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out
Nonrunner
A competitive handicap chase for amateur riders gets the Open meeting underway with plenty of the 18 declared runners having claims including the reappearing King Harald and the in-form pair of Hoopy and No Complaint but it is AGGIE'S LAD that gets the vote. Tony Martin's gelding ran better at Punchestown last month over an inadequate trip of 2m4f and he is taken to resume winning ways now that he is returned to a more suitable distance. Millards Lad had a good season last term but has paid the penalty at the hands of the handicapper as a result and may now be too high in the weights. Venetia Williams has her team in good from so lack of a recent run need not be of concern to backers of her runner Alexanderthegreat, while similar comments apply to the Philip Hobbs-trained Tom Sayers. Gordon Elliott's Hoopy has more to do than when winning a beginners' chase at Wetherby last time and of more interest may be Tom George's No Complaint, who has been in good form during the summer and may well come on for his recent outing at Kempton. Borora and Mister Apple's are others to consider but it is Aggie's Lad that gets the vote.
King Harald (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Made all, ridden and kept on well from 2 out, won at Doncaster 4m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Feb beating Aka Jake (11-4) by 5l, 19 ran.
Church Island (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Always behind, pushed along from early, 16th of 18, well behind Spiriton (10-13) at Cork 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-123 sft in Oct.
Openide 33-1 (11-5) Led, headed 6th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 8l behind Brenin Cwmtudu (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
The Luder (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, weakened from 10th, tailed off when pulled up at the 12th in race won by See You There (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft, 12 ran.
Borora 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, mistake 8th, chased winner last, one pace, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Ellerslie George (10-10) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) frm in Oct.
Double Dizzy 12-1 (11-11) In touch, short lived effort, 13th and struggling after next, 6th of 8, 32l behind Charlies Future (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Hordago (IRE) 20-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, 5th approaching 7 out, lost place from before 5 out, soon weakened, 9th of 16, well behind Alickadoo (9-5) at Cork 3m 4f hcp chs 0-145 hvy.
Nine O (IRE) 14-1 (9-7) Mid-division, mistake 5th, closer in 6th 7 out, no impression from 3 out, 7th of 12, 39l behind Dear Villez (10-12) at Limerick 3m hcp chs sft in Oct.
Hoopy (IRE) 6-4 (11-5) Held up, led 4 out, clear 2 out, driven out, won at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (5) frm in Oct beating Marleybow (11-5) by 4l, 6 ran.
Aggie's lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Prominent, headway to dispute lead when carried badly left by loose horse 3 out, dropped back to 6th, kept on from 2 out without reaching leaders, 4th of 18, 11l behind Shazand (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs sft in Oct.
Millards Lad (IRE) 11-2 (10-12) Keen, in touch, ridden and outpaced 8th, stayed on but hanging right from 3 out, took poor 3rd flat, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Winter Star (11-0) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
No Complaint (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Close up in chasing group, chased clear leading pair from 7th, closed under pressure after 4 out, no extra from next, 3rd and well held when hit last, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Charlies Future (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Best Profile (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Prominent, went left and pecked 2nd and pulled up at the 3rd in race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) sft in Dec '06, 7 ran.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, held up in rear, steady headway 10th, went 2nd 15th, led 2 out, driven and held on gamely run-in, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Apr '07 beating Kenzo III (11-1) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Spare Change (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, no extra 3 out, won at Gowran Park 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 gs in Oct beating Mohtarres (11-6) by a hd, 20 ran.
Mister Apple's (FR) 7-1 (10-0) Mid-division, in touch, progress to go 2nd 15th, led after 2 out, idled flat, hung left, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct beating Gaora Lane (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 15 ran.
The Langer (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, mistake 9th, jumped left 12th, went left and weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 25l behind Randolph O'Brien (11-5) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Tom Sayers (IRE) 2-1 (11-12) Led after 1st, ridden 18th, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 31l behind Geeveem (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
