prominent, led 3rd until next, led 10th until next, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
in touch until weakened quickly after 4 out, pulled up before next
chased leaders, mistake 6th, effort after 3 out, soon weakened
blundered 11th, always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
led until 3rd, chased leaders until mistake 10th, soon driven along in rear, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, hit 4 out, ridden and every chance after 3 out, weakened after next
hit 11th, always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up, hit 8th, headway after 4 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, no extra from last
mid-division, headway when hit 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on approaching last, went 2nd towards finish
held up, headway 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakening when blundered next
raced wide, held up towards rear, headway 12th, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and found little flat, lost 2nd towards finish
prominent, led 4th until 10th, led next, ridden after 3 out, stayed on gamely from next, ridden out
mid-division until weakened after 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
Nonrunner
Stan has very solid claims but nothing really jumps off the page and preference for one runner over another will depend on the price as much as anything else. Two that we're interested in are Battlecry and Pablo Du Charmil but we're likelier to get a price about LIDJO DE ROUGE so will suggest the Nicky Henderson runner. Stan demolished a field that included the selection, the admirable Private Be and Too Forward over course and distance and a 10lb rise in the weights may be insufficient to stop him if he's in the same mood. The softer conditions could help the veteran Too Forward take closer order and this course specialist is no forlorn hope. Turko and Moon Over Miami have plenty to prove at present whilst a 10lb rise for Akilak's win at Newcastle could be enough to scupper his chances. Battlecry has his first run in a handicap over fences and could be on an interesting mark. He was disappointing last time but that was towards the start of the stable's lean spell and he could be a threat to all if near his best. Pablo Du Charmil has to prove himself at this trip but was impressive over two miles here on his penultimate start and ran well at Kempton over the same trip; testing ground poses no problems for him and he could be interesting. With slight doubts about those two we're going to put forwards Lidjo De Rouge who looks certain to be sent off at an each-way price. He was fifteen lengths behind Stan in fourth last time but was given plenty to do having been held up a long way off the pace. He is in form, handles the ground, is proven over course and distance and ran well in a similar race last time which goes some way to compensating for the fact that he lacks the class of some of the opposition who don't come into the race in the same form so we're happy to put Lidjo De Rouge forwards at a price.
Mister McGoldrick 9-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, led 11th, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 50l behind Nozic (10-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Dec.
Stan (NZ) 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, hit 8th, challenged 3 out, led well before 2 out, clear when jumped well last, stayed on strongly, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs beating Fier Normand (10-5) by 11l, 14 ran.
Pablo Du Charmil (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Raced in 4th, driven into 3rd after 3 out, no impression next, 3rd of 7, 5l behind Fiepes Shuffle (11-0) at Kempton 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Reveillez 9-4fav (10-10) Held up, steady headway 16th, not fluent 18th, tracked leading pair 4 out, staying on at one pace, no impression when left 2nd at last, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Hot Weld (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr '07.
Turko (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Mid-division, awkward 5th and dropped rear, hit 7th, mistake 9th and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Mon Mome (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec, 15 ran.
Battlecry 13-2 (11-1) Jumped left, led, blundered 6th, headed approaching 12th, regained lead 14th, jumped badly left 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 5, 9l behind Barbers Shop (11-5) at Sandown 3m lst chs (1) gs in Dec.
Private Be 11-2 (10-11) Led 2nd, hit 11th, strongly pressed 3 out, headed before next, weakened, 8th of 14, 23l behind Stan (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Moon Over Miami (GER) 9-2 (11-10) Towards rear, headway when mistake 4 out, kept on from next, 2nd of 9, 19l behind Santa's Son (11-6) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs (2) sft in Dec.
Akilak (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, shaken up to lead last, ridden out readily, won at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs (2) sft in Dec beating Kilcrea Asla (10-10) by 5l, 12 ran.
Bring Me Sunshine (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Raced wide, chased leaders until weakened approaching 3 out, 15th of 16, well behind Cruchain (11-7) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec.
Too Forward (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Raced wide, towards rear, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, never in contention, 6th of 14, 19l behind Stan (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
The Sawyer (BEL) 8-1 (11-6) Led 3rd, strongly pressed and narrowly headed 2 out, rallied gamely flat to regain lead towards finish, won at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft beating Appleaday (11-4) by 1/2l, 15 ran.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 66-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, stayed on approaching last, kept on well flat, 4th of 14, 15l behind Stan (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs.
Foreman (GER) 15-2 (11-2) In rear, ridden and no impression from 4 out, 7th of 10, 50l behind Kerryhead Windfarm (10-11) at Killarney 2m 5f chs gd in May.
