chased leaders, lost place when hit 9th, tailed off from 3 out
held up, prominent 7th, hit 5 out, soon weakened
always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 7th
chased leaders, blundered 5 out, soon ridden, soon weakened
close up, led 12th, drew clear after last
towards rear when fell 3rd
towards rear, hit 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
made most at 12th, hit 3 out, every chance until after last, no chance with winner
held up, headway to chase leaders 11th, hit 4 out when weakening
always behind, struggling from 11th
chased leaders, lost place approaching 12th, tailed off 3 out
behind, struggling from 11th
QUICKBEAM is taking his time to mature but may be able to get things right this rime around. Sandhurst, Hopkins and Hockenheim are amongst the chief threats. Quickbeam has shaped well in his chase starts in the main but has twice fallen and then failed to run his race when turned out quickly after his latest fall. He has been given a short break and is taken to fulfil his promise with his yard continuing in form. Sandhurst has some decent form to his name and should benefit from this step up in trip; his run at Towcester was his first since April and he should be a threat to all. Hockenheim ran one of his better races to finish behind a decent sort at Carlisle but the stable has reportedly struggled to get sufficient work into their string so their runners have to be treated with caution. Hopkins has a short absence to overcome and needs to improve on the form that he has shown so far but there's reason to believe that he can as his last season culminated with a valuable win over the brush hurdles at Haydock. Sir Jimmy Shand is well regarded but has plenty to prove following a couple of lacklustre runs in decent races. The remainder look up against it but there are doubts about a number of the principals including our selection, Quickbeam.
Badger 40-1 (10-11) Prominent, reminders approaching 7th, lost place next, plugged on to take moderate 3rd before last, 3rd of 9, 27l behind Mister Potter (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, mistake 5th, ridden 4 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 14l behind Huckleberry (10-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Freddies Return (IRE) 18-1 (10-12) Held up in last, losing touch from 10th, went poor 3rd after 4 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Ring The Boss (11-4) at Warwick 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Jan.
Hockenheim (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Led, headed when blundered last, no extra, 2nd of 8, 9l behind Tot O'Whiskey (10-12) at Carlisle 3m nov chs (3) hvy in Oct.
Hopkins (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Led, ridden 14th, headed 12th, kept on one pace, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Backbord (11-0) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
Johnny Harris (IRE) 250-1 (10-7) In touch, reminders and lost place 7th, soon behind, 13th of 16, well behind Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Ortega (FR) 14-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, challenged 5 out, every chance next, weakened quickly 2 out, 5th of 15, well behind Just Smudge (12-1) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Quickbeam (IRE) 3-1 (10-11) Led until mistake and headed 10th, ridden after 14th, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 7, well behind Kornati Kid (11-0) at Exeter 3m beg chs (3) sft in Dec.
Sandhurst (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Always in touch, mistake 7th, chased winner after 3 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Mister Potter (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) hvy in Jan.
Simply Smashing (IRE) Pulled up in race won by Takeyourpick at Coolkip 3m ire ptp gs in Oct '07, 7 ran.
Sir Jimmy Shand (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Close up, joined leaders 13th until next, soon ridden, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, well behind Or Jaune (10-12) at Kempton 3m nov chs (3) sft in Jan.
Star Beat 10-1 (10-11) Behind, some headway 4 out, never near leaders, 8th of 16, 41l behind Sa Suffit (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f beg chs (4) gs in Jan.
Prince Aeneaf 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden after 7th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, 41l behind Lodge Lane (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Dec '07.
