towards rear, ridden and struggling after 6th, tailed off
prominent, pulled up after 4th, dismounted lame
chased leaders. driven after 6th, soon weakened, taliled off
behind, stayed on from 2 out, kept on well flat, not reach leaders
held up towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd early flat, no chance with front pair
soon chasing leader, ridden 3 out, mistake and weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, steady headway 6th, chasing leaders with hit 4 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression approaching last
chasled leaders, led soon after 4 out, driven and stayed on well flat
not fluent, led, reminders before 6th, headed soon after 4 out, weakened quickly, eased from 2 out, tailed off
chased leaders, went 3rd 2 out, no impression on front pair, lost 3rd early flat, weakened
always in rear, driven and struggling after 6th, tailed off
raced wide, took keen hold and always behind, tailed off
A competitive handicap hurdle to open the card and this can go to Ofarel D'Airy, with Sea Wall and danger and both Decisive and I'm Spartacus likely to go well. The selection was last seen when winning a novices' handicap chase over the track in April. That was compensation for connections, who had aimed him at the Jewson Chase at the Festival before he missed the cut. Still a maiden over hurdles, he races here from a mark 12lb lower than his chase rating and he looks likely to capitalise on ground that suits. Sea Wall will have supporters after staying well to outpoint Tribal Venture over 3m at Bangor last time. A 5lb rise looks fair and he can go well, though he would ideally prefer faster ground. Decisive is a typically tough, genuine, Peter Bowen-trained gelding who acts on the ground and will get every yard of this trip. He is in good nick but a 5lb rise for running second at Market Rasen means he has hit work cut out. Im Spartacus has been kept busy during the summer and ran a nice race when runner-up at Newton Abbot last time, but this looks tougher. From Dawn To Dusk looks the pick of the Hobbs pair here and after a pipe opener recently he can get involved, but preference is for Ofarel D'Airy, who gets a confident vote.
Fenix (GER) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Take A Mile (9-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Dec.
Decisive 17-2 (11-1) Led, ridden and headed after last, edged left run-in, no extra, 2nd of 17, 1 1/2l behind Pigeon Island (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Penny Pictures (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Behind from 5th, 12th of 18, well behind Sonnyanjoe (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Sept.
Nintytwo Team (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, no extra from before 3 out, last of 8, more than 9l behind Definate Spectacle (11-2) at Cork 2m 2f hdl gf in Sept.
Im Spartacus 7-2fav (10-7) Held up, headway 7th, chased leader 2 out, every chance when jumped left and bumped last, no extra, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Sonnyanjoe (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Sept.
Ofarel D'airy (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Left in lead 1st, headed 5th, led again before 8th, headed 12th, stayed pressing leader, stayed on well under pressure to lead close home, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs (3) gd in Apr beating Black Hills (11-4) by 1l, 10 ran.
Leading Contender (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, led 5th, stumbled on landing and fell at the 7th in race won by Abragante (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
From Dawn To Dusk 7-2co-fav (11-11) Chased leaders, led 6th, headed approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Nudge And Nurdle (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Sept.
Sea Wall 3-1 (11-5) With leader, led 3rd, ridden between last 2, ran on flat, won at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Sept beating Tribal Venture (11-12) by 2l, 10 ran.
Cold Mountain (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Took keen hold in mid-division, switched right headway approaching 2out, stayed on flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Commemoration Day (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
Red Ruffles (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5 out, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Kasthari (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (C) gd in Dec '05.
Jimboreal (FR) 40-1 (11-0) Always mid-division, 9th of 15, 16l behind Altilhar (11-10) at Ascot 2m 4yo nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Mar.
Go Free 7-2jt-fav (11-6) Held up, headway after 9th, 6th, in touch and going well when brought down 3 out in race won by Herne Bay (11-8) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sept, 13 ran.
