mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden 4 out, kept on one pace
towards rear, headway after 7th, ridden, weakened approaching 9th
held up, mistake 4th, headway approaching 5 out, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd flat
lost touch 4th
in touch, chased winner from 3rd, ridden 4 out, mistake, unseated rider
mid-division, ridden after 7th, weakened 4 out
lost touch 3rd, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
made all, jumped left mostly, ridden out
with leader early, driven 6th, weakened 5 out
tracked winner to 2nd, reminders, lost place 4th, left 2nd 4 out, hampered, soon weakened
Thievery has solid claims in a distinctly modest affair but one couldn't be confident about his chances. Island Of Memories can usually be relied upon to run her race whilst Ask The Umpire comes here in form. The selection could never get competitive at Huntingdon last time but that track is all about speed and he shouldn't have that problem here. He disappointed on his previous visit to the track but this is his trip and he acts on the ground. Island Of Memories isn't the easiest to win with but that comment could be applied to most of the field. She's pretty consistent for one of her ability and has some course and distance form to her name; she's high on the short-list. Ask The Umpire seems to save his best for Towcester but has won here and comes into the race on the back of a win and may be able to get into the mix again. Support for chase and handicap debutant Sea Saffron or indeed any of this field would be worth bearing in mind but we'll stick with Thievery.
Glen Thyne (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, under pressure before 7th, headway after 3 out, never able to challenge, 4th of 14, 9l behind Ask The Umpire (10-5) at Towcester 2m cnd hcp chs (5) hvy in Jan.
Island of Memories (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Held up and keen, effort to chase leaders after 4 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Sole Agent (11-4) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Sea Saffron 100-1 (10-12) Keen in rear, bumped 3rd, behind 7th, 9th of 14, well behind Pennek (10-12) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Ask The Umpire (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) Held up mid-division, outpaced 7th, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on to lead close home, won at Towcester 2m cnd hcp chs (5) hvy in Jan beating Furze Hill (9-11) by 1l, 14 ran.
Thievery 5-1jt-fav (10-0) Held up and behind, stayed on approaching 2 out, never near leaders, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Oiseau de Nuit (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Kirby's Vic (IRE) 9-1 (10-3) Led 2nd, clear 3rd, mistake and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Billy Bray (11-9) at Towcester 2m cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Nov '06, 10 ran.
Fight The Feeling 40-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, raced keenly, weakened 7th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Ask The Umpire (10-5) at Towcester 2m cnd hcp chs (5) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Red Jester 13-2 (10-2) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, no impression next, 7th of 12, 44l behind Sheikhman (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) hvy.
Littleton Aldor (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, chased clear leader after 3rd, weakening when pulled up 2 out in race won by Ask The Umpire (10-5) at Towcester 2m cnd hcp chs (5) hvy in Jan, 14 ran.
Narval D'avelot (FR) 11-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, weakening when blundered 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Fabulous Jet (11-10) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs, 11 ran.
Norseman Cateline (FR) 5-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened after 4 out, mistake 3 out, 5th of 11, 45l behind Fabulous Jet (11-10) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
