held up behind leaders, headway 5th, ridden in close 3rd 4 out, kept on same pace
prominent until 5th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 4 out
not fluent early, behind, hit 2nd, headway after 8th, led 4 out, went right 2 out, kept on well, ridden out
chased leaders, ridden approaching 7th, soon weakened
held up, headway 8th, ridden approaching 4 out, went right 2 out, one pace
prominent, led briefly approaching 4 out, soon ridden, kept on, always held by winner
led, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened
A tight handicap that could see Self Respect open his account over fences but Pavillon Bleu is an interesting runner whilst Jarro, Whatcanisay and Nemetan have all run big races over course and distance recently. The selection beat Moon Over Miami in a Listed hurdle back in October 2006 and has run well on occasion since without really building on that form. He has found himself running against Acambo and Lead On on his two outings over fences this term but has acquitted himself creditably and will be more at home in this company. Pavillon Bleu hasn't excelled in two outings over hurdles since arriving from France but has won two chases in his native land so could conceivably improve for the switch. Jarro was only narrowly denied over course and distance on his penultimate start but could be vulnerable to less exposed rivals. Whatcanisay came home with a rare rattle having lost his place but still had a length and a half to find with Nemetan at the line. He has gone up by 7lbs and the winner by 8 but his rise is negated by the claim of his young conditional. Whatcanisay was making his chase debut that day but there's little to choose between the pair. An intriguing heat in which we'll side with Self Respect.
Self Respect (USA) 13-2 (11-0) Prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 29l behind Lead On (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (2) sft in Dec.
Jarro (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Led, headed after 1st, led again 4th, headed 7th, ridden 13th, weakened next, 9th of 11, well behind Comber (10-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Pavillon Bleu (FR) 5-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 17, 32l behind Irish Legend (11-0) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Blakeney Coast (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, reminders after 6th, went prominent 7th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Damarisco (11-1) at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jun '06.
Whatcanisay 3-1jt-fav (10-8) Held up, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on strongly approaching last, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Nemetan (10-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Nemetan (FR) 5-1 (10-7) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden to lead approaching last, driven out, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan beating Whatcanisay (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Walsingham (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Led, headed 12th, weakened 13th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Ashwell (11-7) at Ludlow 3m cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Jan, 12 ran.
