held up in rear, headway from 4 out, weakened after 2 out
mistakes 1st and 2nd, pulled up before 4th
in touch, effort going well in close 4th when fell 2 out
chased leader, not fluent 5th, weakened 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 11th
very reluctant to race, always tailed off
close up, pushed along from 11th, pressing leaders and every chance when pecked 2 out, weakened and lost second approaching last
held up, stayed on steadily from 4 out, driven to chase winner last, one pace and well held flat
led, blundered 6th, blundered 3 out, headed between last 2 and soon weakened
tracked leaders, went second 6th, led between last 2, stayed on well flat
chased leaders until weakened 10th
In a competitive handicap that lacks strength in depth, we are going to opt for Lord Of The Hill ahead of Jefertiti, Phildari, Curtins Hill and Music To My Ears. The selection is a lightly-raced eight-year-old who comes here seeking a straight hat-trick of wins. Okay, the first of these came in a seller and the second came following a dour battle with Jefertiti, who reopposes here on four pounds better terms for two lengths. It wont be easy for the selection but he deserves to take his chance at a higher level now that he has been reassessed. Just Reuben comes here on good heart, having won two of his last three races. He hacked up at Fontwell last time but has been raised nine pounds in the ratings as a consequence. Regal Vision has yet to progress from winning a novice event at Newton Abbot, and Green Go, twice a winner at Cartmel in August before falling at Stratford last time, can go well with Richard Johnson booked. Phildari was pulled up behind Lord Of The Hill and Jefertiti last time but his win from Rose Tina in September has subsequently been boosted. Venetia Williams runs the French import Jasmin Guichois, but he's been disappointing over fences so far since winning a conditional jockeys' hurdling event at Folkestone last December. By Phardante and trained by Jonjo O'Neill, Music To My Ears has won twice over hurdles in the last seven weeks, but it would be a good effort for him to win at the first time over fences, although he jumped his hurdles well. Topweight Curtins Hill is the only course winner in the race, and that came off a mark of 96 last December. He has run well from revised marks since and, in what is not a strong event, is entitled to have his supporters in this contest. However, he has an absence since May to overcome, something which inclines us towards Lord Of The Hill.
