tracked leader, led after 4th, ridden and headed 4 out, soon under pressure, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed next, kept on same pace
held up in rear, weakened before 10th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
chased leaders, lost place 7th, fell next
held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on strongly (no time taken due to poor visiability)
tracked leaders, led 3 out, jumped right and headed next, soon hard ridden, rallied flat, kept on well
led, jumped right 2nd, headed after 4th, soon lost place, behind when fell 10th
Osric was sent off favourite on his chasing debut at Wetherby in October but didn't attack his fences with any real conviction and was readily outpaced close home. He'll have learned from the experience but this looks another decent contest and SQUADRON was a better horse over hurdles. Alan King's gelding may be more effective over 3m in time but this is quite a stiff track and he shaped with promise when fourth at Huntingdon in May. A French Horse was a progressive type over hurdles and should be even better over fences. But he returns from a long absence here while Evan Williams saddles three with Blacktoft, a winner at Newton Abbot in June, having the edge in experience over his stable companions. Fahrisee is probably the one with most potential, however.
Blacktoft (USA) 11-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, led next, mistake 4 out, headed next, soon one pace, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Potemkin (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m nov chs (3) gs in Nov.
A French Horse (FR) 10-11fav (10-12) Close up until badly hampered 5th, handy soon after, led 3 out, clear when hit last, driven out and kept on run-in, won at Warwick 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov '09 beating Topsham Belle (10-2) by 1 1/4l, 16 ran.
Akarshan (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, lost place when pecked 7th, weakened before next, blundered 2 out, 7th of 13, 26l behind Raslan (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) sft in Aug.
Fahrisee (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Led and not fluent 1st, tracked leader after, mistake 3rd, not fluent and lost place 9th, soon beaten, last of 4, well behind Pepe Simo (11-1) at Sandown 2m beg chs (3) gd in Nov.
Osric (IRE) 6-5fav (11-2) Led 1st, hit next, headed 3rd, led 4 out, headed 3 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Gilbarry (11-2) at Wetherby 2m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Squadron 4-1 (10-12) Towards rear, mistake 9th, outpaced 11th, about 20 lengths in 6th going to 2 out, stayed on strongly from last, took 4th towards finish, 4th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Circus Of Dreams (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in May.
Cruising Bye 20-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway on outer over 2f out, soon ridden and kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 7l behind Muldoon's Picnic (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gf in Apr.
