mid-division, hit 5th, headway next, ridden to chase leader 3 out, kept on same pace
mainly towards rear
held up, ridden after 5th, headway after 7th, weakened 3 out
chased leaders until 5th, soon behind, pulled up after 7th
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 4th, led after 5th, ridden and headed 3 out, no chance with winner from next
mid-division, pecked 2nd, weakened approaching 5th, pulled up before 7th
held up, headway 5th, ridden after 7th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 7th, led 3 out, clear next, edged left flat, stayed on well
led, soon clear, headed after 5th, weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders until weakened after 7th
in touch, went 2nd 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace after
Nonrunner
A really open start and on testing ground, narrow preference is for recent winner Bernard ahead of Vial De Kerdec and Kofi. The selection showed a good attitude when winning at the track last time out and tries to repeat the dose a fortnight later. He won on good to soft that day and with the drop in trip likely to be offset by the testing conditions, he looks the percentage call. Whatcanisay needs respect as a wining point to pointer but he hasn't reproduced it on the racecourse proper in the past, whilst Philanthropist is well-bred but hardly looks a natural over hurdles. Sovietta should be fit from a recent flat run, whilst Top Dawn has claims but looks up against it from out of the weights. Fleur Babe could run well for an in-form stable, however Vial De Kerdec may have been given a lenient mark for his handicap debut but we will soon find out. A tough start, and the pin comes down on Bernard.
Kofi 14-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, well behind Hills Of Aran (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Stara (FR) 25-1 (10-11) In rear, ridden approaching 5th, behind when mistake 6th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Insignia (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jul, 11 ran.
Bernard 20-1 (9-7) Towards rear, headway 8th, led 3 out, jumped left last, driven out flat, won at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov beating Blakeney Run (11-0) by 7l, 13 ran.
Hint Of Gold 66-1 (10-6) Always in rear, tailed off, 13th of 18, well behind Rapscallion (11-5) at Kempton 2m cnd nov hcp hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Los Suenos (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Always in rear, 7th of 10, 40l behind Double Dizzy (11-1) at Exeter 2m 6f amt nov hdl (4) gf in Nov '06.
Jomelamin 100-1 (10-7) Mid-division, ridden 5th, weakend 3 out, 6th of 17, 33l behind Apollo Lady (11-2) at Wincanton 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs.
Sovietta (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Keen hold, tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, ridden after next, soon weakened, blundered last, 5th of 9, 34l behind Wingman (11-2) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb.
Whatcanisay 4-5fav (12-0) Always prominent, led 14th, drew clear 3 out, stayed on straight, won at Wadebridge 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Oh So Naughty (12-0) by 30l, 7 ran.
Philanthropist 10-1 (10-2) Always in rear, lost touch 5th, blundered next, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Brousse En Feux (11-5) at Hereford 2m 1f amt nov hcp hdl (5) gs, 15 ran.
Fleur Babe 25-1 (9-13) Chased leader, led approaching 8th, mistake and headed 3 out, led soon after, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 9, 19l behind Surfboard (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Top Dawn (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Mid-division, took close to order 6th, weakened 8th, 7th of 10, 39l behind Magot De Grugy (11-9) at Chepstow 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Nov.
Vial De Kerdec (FR) 33-1 (11-0) Raced keenly in touch, ridden and weakened after 7th, blundered 3 out, 7th of 13, 29l behind Ouzbeck (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in Nov.
Over Ice 20-1 (10-6) Always in rear, 7th of 13, well behind Prince De Bersy (10-10) at N Abbot 2m 3f cnd mdn hdl (5) gf in Sept.
