held up rear, headway 5 out, weakened next, no chance when jumped right 2 out
held up in touch, every chance 3 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
led to 3rd, weakened 5 out
chased leader, led 3rd to after 7th, weakened before next
behind, blundered 2nd, weakened when fell 3 out
always in rear
held up towards rear, headway 7th, hung left from 5 out, went 2nd approaching last but always held
held up in touch, went 2nd 6th, led after 7th, clear approaching last very easily
Nonrunner
Give Me Love, a capable hurdler on his day, may yet make into a chaser but the five-year-old may have to play a minor role here behind another runner from the stable of Paul Nicholls Le Volfoni, who gets the vote ahead of Steppes of Gold. The selection was decent over hurdles in his native France and has run with promise in two starts over the larger obstacles since joining current connections. Today's softer surface should suit more than the good ground that Le Volfoni encountered at Warwick last time and, with the benefit of those two runs since joining Nicholls, there should be more to come. Nicky Henderson's French import Liberia has been off for the best part of a year so is probably best watched on his belated return, while Beaufort County would need to improve on the form he has shown in Ireland on his first start since joining Evan Williams. Ideal Jack is another to consider but the biggest threat is likely to come from Steppes Of Gold. Jonjo O'Neill's gelding had some decent form for Nicky Richards last term and was in the process of making an encouraging debut for new connections when falling at Huntingdon on his reappearance in October. There should be more to come from the lightly raced eight-year-old but Le Volfoni has an obvious chance and is hard to oppose.
Beaufort County (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden and weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 16, well behind Texas Holdem (11-4) at Thurles 2m 2f mdn hdl sft in Feb.
Give Me Love (FR) 11-4jt-fav (10-3) Tracked leader, led 6th, joined leader 2 out, soon ridden and headed before last, weakened, 4th of 7, 9l behind Caracciola (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) sft in Oct.
Goldseam (GER) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out and not fluent, soon behind, 8th of 9, 40l behind Alrafid (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (E) frm in Oct '04.
Only For Gold 300-1 (11-5) In rear when mistake 2nd, lost touch from 4th, mistake next, soon tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Accordion Etoile (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Nov.
Steppes of Gold (IRE) 13-8 (11-7) Held up and not fluent, headway 11th, ridden and hung left from 13th, joined leader next, 3rd and weakening when fell 2 out in race won by Napolitain (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f beg chs (D) gd in Oct, 4 ran.
Le Volfoni (FR) 7-4 (10-10) In touch, led 6th to 7th, led again 8th, ridden and headed approaching last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind Voy Por Ustedes (10-10) at Warwick 2m 4yo nov chs (C) gd in Nov.
Ideal Jack (FR) 40-1 (9-10) Mid-division, headway 8th, soon weakened, 11th of 13, well behind Lord Nellsson (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Nov.
Liberia (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 5th of 11, 17l behind Eskimo Pie (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (D) hvy.
