mid-division, headway when not fluent 7th, shaken up 4 out, 3rd and looking held when mistake 3 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, well behind after 7th, tailed off next, pulled up after
in rear, well behind 7th, tailed off next, pulled up after
prominent, led 7th, headed when mistake 2 out, no impression on winner last, one pace
led until 7th, one pace 4 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression, one pace
prominent, challenged 3 out, led next, clear last, easily
tracked leaders, lost place and jumped slowly 6th, closed 8th, mistake 10th, weakening when jumped right 4 out, tailed off when jumped right again next, soon pulled up
This is a high-class novice chase as at least a couple of these will have the Cheltenham Festival as a long-term target. Deputy Dan is one as he was second in the Albert Bartlett in March over timber. But his jumping has been a bit wayward so far over fences and he has to give 5lb to SAPHIR DU RHEU courtesy of winning a three-runner race at Plumpton last month. Paul Nicholls' five-year-old pulled much too hard before unseating his rider at Newbury last week but he's expected to leave that running well behind in time and it's significant that he's brought out again quickly here. There are races to be won with Horizontal Speed judged on his second at Aintree in October while ex-pointer Pure Oxygen should do better with a fourth at Ludlow under his belt. The Wexfordian is another with a future.
Deputy Dan (IRE) 5-6fav (11-1) Jumped right at times, disputed lead until led 8th, made rest, ridden clear approaching 2 out, kept on flat, won at Plumpton 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Nov beating Far West (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 3 ran.
Bonds Conquest 20-1 (11-6) Led until 4th, weakening when blundered 9th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Orsm (10-11) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in May, 12 ran.
Castarnie 12-1 (11-0) Led, headed before 2 out, ridden before last, one pace in 3rd, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Saint John Henry (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy in Nov.
Horizontal Speed (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 2nd until 3rd, mistake 6th and dropped to 3rd, mistake 7th, jumped left and outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, last of 3, well behind Southfield Theatre (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 4f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Pure Oxygen (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Led, jumped left, headed before 4 out, no extra last, 4th of 6, 16l behind Hold Court (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Salmanazar 25-1 (11-3) Took keen hold tracking leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 13th of 16, 35l behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-0) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec '13.
Saphir Du Rheu (FR) 11-10fav (11-1) Tracking winner when blundered and unseated rider 7th, in a race won by Coneygree (11-1) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grade 2 (1) sft in Nov, 5 ran.
The Wexfordian (IRE) 66-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place 2 out (usual 4 out), soon outpaced, weakened on extended run-in, 5th of 6, 24l behind Champagne West (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov chs (2) sft in Nov.
