held up in mid-division, headway approaching 7th, led just after 3 out, drew clear on bit approaching last, easily
held up in rear, pushed along before 7th, stayed on approaching last, never nearer
held up towards rear on outside, pushed along when not fluent 3 out, no progress, behind when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, chasing leaders 2 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, went second 7th, ridden when not fluent 3 out, weakened approaching last
chased leader, led 6th, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway after 7th, chasing leaders 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up in rear, mistake 5th, staying on when hit last, nearest finish
held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 4th, headway before next, not fluent 3 out, driven 2 out, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, mistake 4th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd before last, no chance with winner
not always fluent, in touch, lost place when hit 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
not fluent 1st, always in rear, tailed off
in touch, not fluent 3rd, led and hit 3 out, soon headed, weakened after 2 out, tailed off
prominent, weakening when not fluent 7th, tailed off
raced keenly, mid-division, in touch from 4th, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace last
held up in rear, steady headway when jumped slowly 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd last, kept on same pace flat
led to 6th, ridden next, weakened well before 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 7th
held up, ridden before 3 out, always towards rear
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
For the sake of this preview we've whittled our short-list down to BALLYDUB, Pennek and Sherney with the Hobbs runner awarded the vote.Of course there are a good number of others with live claims and the likes of Punchestowns, Timpo, Qulinton and Super Formen can't be passed over lightly but a conclusion has to be reached. Philip Hobbs has assembled a strong team at his Somerest base and there's been a lot to like about the two Rules runs of this former winning pointer. His debut saw him chase home one of Nick Gifford's who has won both subsequent starts whilst the fourth and fifth have also done their bit to uphold the form too. His hurdling bow saw him gain a narrow verdict from a subsequent winner at Newbury with the pair finishing a long way clear of the field. Ground and trip appear ideal for this stage of his career and he appears to be fairly handicapped. Pennek is another one that's difficult to get a hold of but the horse that he beat at Hereford progressed well enough to be rated in the hundred and forties The links are clearly a little tenuous and he has a long absence to overcome but it would be disappointing if he didn't have more in his locker. Irish raiders always have to be respected despite the traditional furore regarding their handicap marks on either side of the sea. Sherney was allotted a mark of 109 when running down the field in a Listed hurdle last time yet races from a stone higher mark here. The booking of Alan O'Keeffe is an interesting one and he's shown enough to be of interest here but Ballydub is the suggestion.
Punchestowns (FR) 5-4 (11-8) Tracked leaders, hit 6th, chased winner after 3 out, no impression approaching last, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Elusive Dream (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Vale Of Avocia (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Always behind, ridden and lost touch from halfway, last of 11, well behind Give It Time (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 2f mrs lst nov hdl sft in Oct.
Leg Spinner (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway 5 out, moderate 7th approaching 2 out, ridden to go 4th into straight, slight mistake last, kept on run-in, 4th of 17, 6l behind Laura's Light (10-3) at Galway 3m hcp hdl 0-130 gs in Aug.
No Panic (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up, headway after 7th, effort 4 out, hit 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Hell's Bay (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Super Formen (FR) 12-1 (9-13) Led, clear 2nd, ridden and headed when mistake 2 out, kept on again flat, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Crack Away Jack (11-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Qulinton (FR) 7-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, led 6th, clear 3 out, ridden last, headed close home, 2nd of 13, hd behind Ouzbeck (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Adroit Approach (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, pulled hard early, under pressure 3 out, soon no impression, 5th of 14, 21l behind Lake Legend (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd.
Pennek (FR) 4-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 6th, ridden 2 out, led after last, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec beating Quickbeam (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 14 ran.
Lupanar (IRE) 5-6fav (11-5) Wanted to jump left, tracked leaders, went narrow 2nd and jumped left 2 out, led soon after, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo hdl (4) gs in May beating Maraafeq (11-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ballydub (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Chased leader, challenged 3 out, not fluent last, led flat, driven out, won at Newbury 2m 5f mdn hdl (3) sft in Mar beating Canalturn (10-9) by a nk, 15 ran.
Pocket Aces (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 5th, shaken up approaching 2 out, stayed on approaching last, never near leaders, 7th of 16, 11l behind Mirage Dore (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Sherney (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Rear of mid-division, closer order after 3 out, soon moderate 3rd and no impression under pressure, lost place and no extra approaching 2 out, 7th of 12, 20l behind Alpha Ridge (11-3) at Limerick 2m 5f lst nov hdl sft in Oct.
Bobby Gee 3-1fav (10-9) Tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, clear from next, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec beating Giovanna (10-2) by 13l, 8 ran.
Corkage (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 12, 20l behind Hora (11-8) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Oct.
Nikos Extra (FR) 6-5jt-fav (11-5) Tracked leading pair, challenged going well from 2 out, upsides when left 3 lengths clear last, idled towards finish, driven out, won at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct beating Tide Slider (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Arctic Magic (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Held up, well behind approaching 3 out, stayed on approaching last, never nearer, 9th of 20, 16l behind Font (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Toomdeely (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Led and clear, ridden and under pressure 3 out, headed before 2 out, no impression on winner, kept on one paced, 2nd of 13, 9l behind Genuine Easy (9-7) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-123 hvy in Oct.
Timpo (FR) 11-2 (10-0) Mid-division, headway on outside before 6th, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 16, 20l behind Mirage Dore (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Old Peak Road (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Held up, mistake 9th, headway after 16th, every chance 2 out, weakening when pecked last, 3rd of 9, 13l behind What A Scientist (11-2) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Distiller (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden before 3 out, weakening when not much room approaching 2 out, 14th of 20, 31l behind Font (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 66-1 (10-4) Held up, keen, in rear when fell 4 out in race won by Crack Away Jack (11-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Bertie May 7-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 6th, ridden in 4th approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 6th of 14, 30l behind Crescent Island (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Freddies Return (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 7th, effort approaching 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 15, 21l behind Go Amwell (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
