always behind, tailed off from 13th
mid-division, headway 10th, not fluent 13th, effort 5 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, blundered 9th, ridden after 5 out, soon weakened
in touch until 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 14th
always behind, mistake 10th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 14th
mid-division, struggling 8th, behind 10th, pulled up before 14th
behind from 6th, pulled up before 8th
chased leader, mistakes 7th and 9th, weakened 13th, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, steady progress from 13th, close 5th and going well enough when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
in touch, headway 7th, went 2nd 9th, ridden after 5 out, weakened next
in touch, ridden after 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off
led, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra, lost 2nd towards finish
held up towards rear, steady progress from 13th, went 3rd 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish
This is a very competitive handicap and we will just side with Low Delta, The Gangerman and Here We Go could be the main dangers. The Paul Nicholls trained seven-year-old is making his chase debut and could have got in here on a fair enough mark. He disappointed on his only run in a handicap hurdle, but had previously chased home the now 127 rated Old Benny which makes today's mark very lenient. Twiston-Davies continues in excellent form so The Gangerman has to be respected despite a poor run last time out. Here We Go ended the last campaign with two decent handicap hurdle victories and is certainly bred for this game so has to be considered for each-way backers. Annie Fleetwood is another with place claims, but we reckon Low Delta could have got in here on a nice mark and he gets the decision.
The Risky Viking (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Held up, headway 8th, every chance after 3 out, soon ridden and held, weakened flat, 4th of 7, 15l behind Trigger The Light (11-11) at Taunton 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Here We Go (IRE) 11-4fav (10-11) Held up towards rear, mistakes 7th and 8th, headway 3 out, ridden and hung left when mistake last, rallied flat to lead close home, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Apr '06 beating Best Profile (11-4) by 1l, 15 ran.
The Gangerman (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Tracked leader from 8th, hit 10th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 6, 33l behind Petit Lord (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
Annie Fleetwood 10-1 (11-6) Mid-division, lost place 9th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Professor Hegarty (11-2) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct, 12 ran.
Black And Tan (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Chased leader after 3rd, weakening when hit 3 out, 9th of 13, 43l behind Scaramouche (11-0) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Count Boris 11-2fav (11-4) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 17, 21l behind Otantique (11-5) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Left Hand Drive 20-1 (10-13) Never a factor, 10th of 11, 39l behind Borehill Joker (10-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Shuil An Burren (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Prominent, ridden 7th, soon weakened, 4th of 14, 29l behind Pigeon Island (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Low Delta (IRE) 15-8fav (11-3) In touch, chased leader 6th, ridden 3 out, soon behind, last of 4, 34l behind Shingle Street (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) frm in Apr.
Opus Cafe (FR) 6-5fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, ridden approaching 3 out, held when blundered badly last, 2nd of 9, 11l behind Telegonus (10-10) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Oct.
Classic Clover 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, under pressure 13th, well behind when fell in race won by Joe Lively (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Junctiontwentyfour 8-1 (10-9) Made all, ridden 3 out, kept on flat, won at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Oct beating Grenfell (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Fine By Me (IRE) 18-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, headway after 4 out, hit next, weakened 2 out, 5th of 9, 10l behind That's Rhythm (11-3) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Ibberton 12-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, hit 9th, weakened 15th, 5th of 9, 47l behind Junctiontwentyfour (10-9) at Lingfield 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Oct.
The Crazy Parson (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Held up, in rear when fell at the 5th in race won by Sports Express (10-10) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
