held up, pushed along 4 out, soon outpaced
held up in touch, one pace 2 out
held up towards rear, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
held up in rear, fell 5 out
towards rear, weakened 3 out, pulled up soon after
held up, ridden approaching 3 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
towards rear, pushed along 4 out, soon struggling
held up mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on
held up, headway 4 out, one pace after 3 out
led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
prominent, hit 6 out, weakened 3 out
held up, good headway to chase leaders halfway, led approaching 3 out, driven out
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression
held up, never dangerous
tracked leaders, weakened approaching 2 out
held up mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out
A wide open start to the day and one where DELCOMBE gets the verdict ahead of Bubbs, while there are plenty of others with a squeak. The Nick Mitchell-trained selection came very much into form when staying on strongly to score in a heavy ground Wincanton contest earlier in the month. He is now 6lbs higher than that, but trip and ground look ideal and this testing circuit can help him defy the 6lb rise. Bubbs has landed two of her last three races, a Newton Abbot seller in August and then a handicap hurdle here in October from a 4lbs lower mark. She handles cut and stays this far, so she has to be short list material. Heezagrey sports cheek pieces for the first time as Martin Keighley tries to get him off the mark. He acts with cut and is worth another try over this trip with that headgear on. Both Alldunnandusted and Posh Emily have recent wins on their CVs, but they now appear to be in the grip of the handicapper, while it may be that neither Ramvaswani nor Tanktastic ever break their ducks. Sparkling Montjeu will go on the ground and has frame claims, and of course the market should be scrutinised to see if there is any confidence in any of the remainder. Delcombe is the suggestion.
Finmere (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, fell 6th, in a race won by Absolute Shambles (10-7) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs, 14 ran.
Paddy's Tern 20-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, hit 6th, never dangerous, 6th of 15, 32l behind Cross Kennon (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy.
Sparkling Montjeu (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Prominent, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 4th of 10, 7l behind Classic Chic (11-0) at Hereford 2m 4f clm hdl (4) sft.
Sir Harry Cool 25-1 (11-7) Chased leader until pushed along and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 13, 10l behind Minnie Hill (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Nearly A Breeze 10-1 (10-8) Led, pushed along 4 out, headed 3 out, stumbled 2 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 12, 12l behind Strategic Plan (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Call Me Sir (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Well Green (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Whatcanisay 20-1 (11-0) In rear, struggling after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Far More Serious (11-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
Posh Emily 4-1 (10-1) Raced keenly, held up on inside, outpaced 2 out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 32l behind Deep Pockets (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Alldunnandusted (IRE) 13-2 (11-1) Held up, mistake 1st, headway to track leaders 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace, 4th of 13, 6l behind Delcombe (10-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy.
Ramvaswani (IRE) 11-1 (10-4) Led until headed 8th, chased leader after, still every chance 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Ballabrook (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 5f am nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Bubbs 11-2 (10-0) Poor visibility over 1st 3 hurdles and again over 4th and 5th, chased leader, led after 6th, headed narrowly approaching 3 out, left in lead 2 out, kept on (no time taken), won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct beating Tabaran (10-0) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Saint Par (FR) 40-1 (10-4) Mid-division, driven 7th, weakening when hit next, 8th of 17, 29l behind Raise You Five (10-13) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Carrigeen Lunaria (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Soon in rear, jumped right from 3rd, lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Petroglyph (11-2) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Captain Smoothy 14-1 (10-7) Always in rear, struggling from 9th, 6th of 7, 41l behind Zilcash (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chase (4) gs in May '08.
Delcombe 50-1 (10-5) Always close up, ridden 2 out, led last, ran on, won at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy beating The Pious Prince (10-0) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Lupita (IRE) 66-1 (9-9) Held up, headway 4th, went 3rd before 3 out, blundered 2 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression, 2nd of 10, 5l behind French Leave (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f Conditional Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-100) (3yo+) (4) hvy.
Tanktastic 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 9th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 17, well behind Dew Drop Inn (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd in Nov.
Heezagrey (IRE) 4-1 (10-5) Mid-division main group, outpaced 3 out, never able to challenge, 6th of 8, 9l behind Wednesdays Boy (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
