held up behind, never dangerous
led, soon clear, raced keen, headed approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 4 out, soon chasing winner until approaching last, no impression
held up mid-division, lost place and in rear approaching 4 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, one pace from 2 out
chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, in rear and weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression
held up on inner, headway after 4 out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, led approaching 3 out, clear approaching last, stayed on well
chased leader, led approaching 3 out, soon headed, in 6th and one pace when fell last
in rear, some headway approaching 2 out, never dangerous
held up toward rear, weakened from 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
This is devilishly difficult to solve but after careful deliberation we side with PRINCE DU BEURY ahead of Simple Jim and Motarid. Nicky Henderson's gelding was beaten a short-head last time, his second runner-up spot from two starts this season. He's gone up another 7lbs in defeat but this doesn't look as strong a contest so whilst it's a concern that the horse remains winless he's just about the most likely winner of this race and may improve yet further. Simple Jim is a consistent sort who seems versatile on the whole. He races off the same mark as when second to a well-treated rival over 2m4f last time and should be absolutely fine with conditions. This is a very similar contest to that which he last ran in and so a similar performance seems likely. Motarid looks the best of the two handicap debutants; he steps up a couple of furlongs in trip but that may eke out further improvement and the five-year-old is less exposed than most. Likewise Moonstreaker has to enter calculations on his first run in this sphere although the form he's shown doesn't quite merit this mark of 119 in our view. Hi Dancer is interesting as one of Ben Haslam's first runners with AP booked. He's not been in the best of form lately but his trainer seemed keen on his chance in a similar race that was abandoned on Monday so a market check is advised. Ifandbutwhy has won two of his four starts this season and merits respect but carrying top weight following a 12lb hike is a tough ask and he's opposable with Prairie Spirit who returns to hurdles off a 21lb higher mark than when last seen. At prices both King's Revenge and Marley Roca are interesting, particularly the last named who wasn't disgraced behind a handicap snip last time, but neither have the solid looking profile of our selection Prince Du Beury.
Ifandbutwhy (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up, steady headway 7th, challenged 4 out, led after next, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (4) gs beating American Cricket (11-10) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Moonstreaker 5-2fav (11-1) Led, ridden and headed between last 2, rallied to lead again briefly flat, no extra near finish, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Gifted Leader (11-4) at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
King's Revenge 9-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, ridden and one pace from 2 out, 5th of 8, 14l behind Benfleet Boy (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy.
Motarid (USA) 13-8 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner from 3 out, kept on for clear 2nd, no chance from last, 2nd of 10, 15l behind Silk Drum (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 4yo nov hdl (3) sft in Jan '09.
Slew Charm (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Pulled hard in rear, blundered 4th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up after 6th, in a race won by Somersby (11-1) at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) gd in Nov, 5 ran.
Viscount Rossini 22-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Toshi (11-2) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Prince du Beury (FR) 7-4fav (11-4) Tracked winner, mistake 6th, hard ridden approaching 2 out, took narrow lead going to last, headed close home, 2nd of 7, shd behind Global Flyer (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Civil Servant 9-2fav (11-12) Jumped slowly 1st, chased leaders, outpaced 7th, soon lost place, weakened next, 9th of 14, 25l behind River Logic (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Motive (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Held up, headway on outside after 4 out, chased leaders next, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 9l behind Grandad Bill (11-5) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Prairie Spirit (FR) 2-5fav (10-6) Held up, headway 7th, went 3rd soon after next, went 2nd well before 2 out, soon challenging, led before last, driven and kept on well flat, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) fm in Apr beating Foreign King (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Hi Dancer 8-1 (11-6) Always behind, 8th of 14, 27l behind Have You Seen Me (11-5) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Simple Jim (FR) 15-2 (10-11) Held up, towards rear and keen, chased leaders 5th, went 2nd and every chance approaching last, ridden flat, kept on, held near finish, 2nd of 12, nk behind Grandad Bill (11-8) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
Share Option 10-3fav (11-3) Held up in rear, keen early, headway after 7th, weakened flat, 5th of 8, 16l behind Quinte Du Chatelet (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Nov.
Cash For Honours 11-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 7th until approaching next, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 18, well behind Rebeccas Choice (11-1) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Prize Fighter (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner after last and rider dropped whip, kept on, always held, 2nd of 20, 4 1/2l behind Shadrack (10-6) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
Adjami (IRE) 80-1 (10-6) Always in rear, tailed off 5th, last of 12, well behind Keki Buku (11-5) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Muntami (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression last, 6th of 11, 6l behind Laughing Game (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Marley Roca (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, headway on inside 3 out, stayed on under pressure to take 3rd after last, 3rd of 16, 10l behind Oenologue (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Crop Walker (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 21, 21l behind Kangaroo Court (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec '08.
Dar Es Salaam 15-2 (11-6) Hampered and unseated rider start, in a race won by Silver Dollars (10-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 11 ran.
