held up mid-division, weakening when hampered 3 out
held up towards rear, effort approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, 2 length down when fell next
led, headed approaching 8th, led 6 out, left clear 5 out, headed approaching last, no chance with winner
held up in touch, lost place approaching 8th
in rear, headway approaching 4 out, led approaching last, stayed on well
towards rear, chased leaders 4 out, in touch when brought down next
tracked leader, led approaching 8th, headed 6 out, disputing lead when fell 5 out
held up towards rear, ridden after 8th, blundered 7 out, weakening when hampered 5 out
held up mid-division, hampered slightly 5 out, chased leaders next, went 3rd approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, hampered 5 out when weakening
held up, struggling from 7th
prominent, weakened 4 out
towards rear, struggling from 8th
chased leaders, went 2nd 5 out, weakened approaching 3 out
This is far from an easy puzzle to solve and ORDRE DE BATAILLE is our call with Supreme Duke and Storm Of Applause others to whet the appetite. Henry Daly's charge has got the edge of race fitness this afternoon and while he has proved a little disappointing in two recent runs, it could be that the going was a little more tacky than what he would have liked and off a 2lb lower mark than his last effort, he has to be very much in the frame today. Supreme Duke beat a useful yardstick in Haar at Ludlow last term. He has been held in two handicaps since so does have to build upon his first run back. Storm Of Applause was a convincing winner of a two mile contest at Ffos Las though has been rejected by Richard Johnson for the other stable representative. Beggars Cap went into many notebooks following an emphatic success at Aintree in May though he was very easy to back on his return in October. Pop has attracted the eye of the newspaper correspondents on more than one or two occasions though he ran as if in need of a reappearance in November. Battlecry is entirely capable though has the tendency to make mistakes. Kruguyrova was a top class mare on her day but we will be prepared to watch rather than punt this afternoon. Leslingtaylor has been a fine servant to connections under all codes during his career. Not an easy race as many hold solid claims and it is Ordre De Battaille's confirmed fitness that swings the pendulum his way.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 7-2fav (11-11) In touch chasing group, outpaced 4 out, never near leaders, 4th of 8, 12l behind Tramantano (11-7) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Beggars Cap (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Held up, outpaced when blundered 3 out, never near leaders, 5th of 8, 18l behind Tramantano (11-7) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Pop (FR) 18-1 (11-5) Behind, hit 9th, headway to chase leaders 11th, one pace and no impression from 4 out, 4th of 18, 29l behind Mount Oscar (11-0) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Battlecry 4-1 (11-2) Led, jumped left 10th, headed 12th, weakened approaching 3 out, left remote 2nd last, 2nd of 4, 45l behind Duc De Regniere (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f grad ch (2) gd in Nov.
Albanov (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Always prominent, mistake and pecked 8th, challenged 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, held on well towards finish, won at Kelso 2m 1f Ltd hcp chs (2) gs in Nov beating Calatagan (10-9) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Watch My Back 20-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, making progress when blundered badly 9th, rider lost iron, took time to recover, headway when hampered 2 out, stayed on flat, 5th of 13, 7l behind Poquelin (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Oct.
Gaelic Flight (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 3rd approaching last, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Consigliere (11-2) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov.
Kilcrea Asla (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Led until 4th, tracked leaders, effort 4 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, 36l behind Ellerslie George (10-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Heathcote 7-2 (11-12) Behind, jumped slowly throughout, always detached, soon pulled up, in a race won by Fit To Drive (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Supreme Duke (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, headway when mistake 10th, chased leaders 3 out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Fit To Drive (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Ordre de Bataille (FR) 5-2fav (11-12) Held up, headway 9th, blundered 12th, struggling after next, hit 4 out, chased winner 3 out, no impression approaching last, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Just Smudge (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Love That Benny (USA) 40-1 (11-4) In rear, struggling 11th, well behind 13th, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Seymar Lad (10-11) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Storm of Applause (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, driven to challenge 4 out, led approaching 2 out, soon pushed clear (no time taken), won at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov beating Dev (11-4) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Cast Iron Casey (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, hit 8th, not fluent and outpaced 5 out, headway approaching 3 out, no impression when hit last, 4th of 7, 12l behind Sa Suffit (11-7) at Haydock 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Nov.
Kaldouas (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hit 5th, led 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Nudge And Nurdle (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Kruguyrova (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Led, hit 6th, headed next, hit 8th, soon driven, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 8, 50l behind Tidal Bay (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Apr '08.
