pecked badly 1st, prominent, led 17th, ridden and headed 4 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, mistake 9th, weakened approaching 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 17th
held up, headway after 17th, 4 lengths 3rd when slipped on landing 4 out, ridden and one pace from next
always travelling well, held up behind, headway to track leaders 15th, led 4 out, stayed on strongly, comfortably
never travelling, always towards rear, behind from 10th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, mistake 10th, took wrong course and pulled up before next
led until 3rd, with leader, led 10th, took wrong course and pulled up before next
in touch, not fluent 2nd and lost place, headway 11th to join leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 3rd, briefly headed approaching 11th, headed 15th, soon driven along, one pace from 4 out
in touch, lost place 8th, headway 14th, led 15th, not fluent and headed next, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
A tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading fancies but the principals look to be Toulouse-Lautrec Dead-Eyed Dick and Sir Frosty and the narrow vote is given to Toulouse-Lautrec. The selection won well last time when beating Knight Of Silver and although he has a penalty for that win he won with plenty in hand and under similar conditions here he is taken to defy the handicapper. Dead-Eyed-Dick rates the main danger as he also won well last time out when beating Georgio but that was on a softer surface and he looks vulnerable off this revised mark on this faster ground. Sir Frosty is another last time out winner that could go well especially as the booking of Tony McCoy catches the eye. Of the remainder Jiver has dropped to a handy mark and could go well at a price but he is far from consistent and in a race where stakes should be kept to a minimum for the winner we return to Toulouse-Lautrec.
Toulouse-Lautrec (IRE) 10-11fav (11-0) Raced wide, tracked leaders, led 8th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well, won at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gs in Nov beating Knight Of Silver (10-4) by 4l, 9 ran.
Will of The People (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) In touch, ridden after 4 out, weakening when hit 3 out, 7th of 18, 21l behind Nonantais (10-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) sft in Apr.
Trust Fund (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Prominent, blundered 6th, hampered 8th, lost place 13th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Iris Bleu (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gd in Nov, 12 ran.
Dead-Eyed Dick (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Held up, headway and bumped 9th, mistake 11th, ridden to lead 2 out, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gf in Sept beating Giorgio (11-1) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Jiver (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Chased leaders, driven along from 11th, gradually lost place, tailed off 4 out, 6th of 9, 33l behind Getoutwhenyoucan (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-135 (E) gs in Nov.
Limerick Leader (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, hit 5th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 12th of 17, well behind Standin Obligation (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Nov.
Sir Frosty 9-4fav (10-5) Tracked leaders, headway 4 out, led next, ridden after last, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in May beating Wildfield Rufo (10-12) by 1l, 10 ran.
Kittenkat 25-1 (11-5) Led to 2nd, prominent until lost place 6th, dropped rear 8th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Kausse de Thaix (11-1) at Windsor 3m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
