tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, soon beaten
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, under pressure before 8th, soon beaten
held up in touch, slow 5th, chased leaders 9th, not fluent next, led 3 out, clear before last, unchallenged after
tracked leader, lost place after 9th, soon beaten
always behind
led, headed 3 out, soon weakened
always behind
SNAKE CHARMER deserves to take this prize although Leo McGarry and Gunnadoit could give him something to think about. Milton Harris has been finding winners hard to come by but it's encouraging how well this gelding has been running in defeat lately. Blinkers have been the making of him and he's twice been in contention when unseating and has twice had the misfortune to bump into well handicapped horses, including on his latest start at Market Rasen. A similar performance should see him gain a deserved success in this grade. Leo McGarry has his fitness to prove but is lightly raced over hurdles and has the scope to achieve further success so he's well worth keeping an eye on as is his unexposed stablemate. Gunnadoit hasn't exactly shone in his four starts but he did run quite well here last time and is open to improvement. Spider Boy and Present have both been struggling for form lately which makes it easy enough to overlook them in favour of the in-form Snake Charmer.
Leo McGarry (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) Prominent, ridden and led 3 out, headed next and gradually weakened, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Brickies Mate (11-1) at Perth 3m hdl (4) gd in May '07.
Letitia's Loss (IRE) 50-1 (10-13) Mid-division, mistakes, reminder 6th, soon lost place, lost touch from 14th, 9th of 11, well behind National Petition (9-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Snake Charmer 9-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, driven and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Picaroon (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec.
Ortega (FR) 33-1 (9-7) Held up, mistake and reminder 2nd, headway when not fluent 6th, dropped rear 9th, mistake next, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind College Ace (11-5) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Present 22-1 (9-13) Always behind, 6th of 11, well behind Jackella (11-11) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Spider Boy 25-1 (10-2) Mid-division, weakened under pressure before 3 out, 9th of 14, 19l behind Rosoff (10-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
Gunnadoit (USA) 6-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, chased winner next, soon no impression, 2nd of 9, 18l behind Sydney Sling (10-9) at Fakenham 2m 3yo mdn hdl (5) sft in Dec.
