chased clear leader, closed on leader after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in main group, ridden after 6th, steady progress from 3 out, stayed on to lead towards finish
held up, hit 4th, weakened after 6th, pulled up before 3 out
led, clear after 3rd, ridden when hit 2 out, no extra when headed towards finish
held up, struggling 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased clear leaders, headway after 6th, ridden to chase leader from 3 out until last, no extra
held up behind, ridden and headway after 5th, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out
chased clear leader, closed on leader after 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
chased clear leaders until weakened afater 6th, pulled up before 3 out
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
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We're going to focus our attention on the three that head the weights with GABRESELASSIE selected but we could be persuaded to have an interest on Master Wells and Manly Money too. The three that make up the short-list are all unexposed and have the potential to rate higher than their present marks unlike the majority of the opposition, many of whom are more effective in plating company. Manly Money has a top jockey on board for his return from an absence and isn't badly handicapped but couldn't be backed with confidence. Nor could Master Wells following two poor runs on testing ground but he was in the process of challenging over course and distance on better ground when falling back in October and is 4lbs lower now. In Vino has shaped well behind some Nicholls' hotpots in novices and hasn't been overburdened by the handicapper; he's bred to improve for this longer trip and the yard could hardly be in better form. The Williams horses continue to run well and Make Haste has run well enough on each of his last three starts to believe that he should go close but he is still a little green. The selection was very disappointing last time but that may have been down to the bad ground. It was just his fourth start over hurdles and he'd shown plenty of promise prior to that so, at a track where his trainer does well, we'll take Gabreselassie to pick up gold.
Make Haste (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Prominent, shaken up, went 2nd after 5th, left in lead and hampered 2 out, soon headed, one pace approaching last, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Take The Breeze (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Master d'Or (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leading pair until fell at the 2nd in race won by Laharna (10-10) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Feb, 8 ran.
Brousse En Feux (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Held up in last, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, no response, 6th of 7, 23l behind Owlesbury Dream (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Mud Monkey 80-1 (10-11) Close up when unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Patsy Finnegan (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb, 18 ran.
Joli Classical (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Always in rear, 9th of 13, 31l behind Dansimar (11-9) at Hereford 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Roisin's Prince (IRE) 50-1 (9-11) Held up, soon in touch, joined leaders 4th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 9, 11l behind Nortonthorpe Lad (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Sweet Optomist 8-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 48l behind Tarateeno (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
Spanish Cruise (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, soon went 2nd, weakened approaching last, 5th of 16, 15l behind Gainsborough's Art (10-4) at Huntingdon 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Feb.
Bernard 11-2 (10-4) Towards rear, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, pulled up before last pulled up at the last in race won by Penn Da Benn (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jan, 8 ran.
Share My Dream (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Chased leader, ridden 6th, weakened next and pulled up 2 out in race won by Alasao (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
In Vino 7-4 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and chased winner 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Shamari (11-10) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Gabreselassie (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway under pressure into mid-division after 3 out, soon beaten, 9th of 16, 23l behind Silk Affair (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Feb.
Manly Money 10-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, kept on one pace from last, 2nd of 9, 12l behind John Diamond (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov '07.
Master Wells (IRE) 28-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Wise Men Say (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, weakened quickly 3 out, 7th of 14, 49l behind Bally Conn (11-6) at Taunton 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Freddy's Star (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) In touch, raced keenly, led 5th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, weakening when mistake 2 out, 7th of 11, 23l behind Forty Five (11-7) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Feb.
