held up towards rear, steady headway from 9th, not fluent 11th, tracked leaders 13th, led 3 out, soon clear, very easily
tracked leaders, lost place 14th, pulled up after next
led until headed and mistake 3 out, pulled up after last
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, blundered next, soon chasing leaders, kept on, never able to challenge
held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased winner before 2 out, never able to challenge
held up mid-division, mistake 5th, headway 10th, ridden to chase leaders 13th, mistake 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leader, ridden 14th, lost place approaching 15th, behind when pulled up after last
in touch, slow 6th, blundered and unseated rider 8th
mid-division, headway 3 out, chased winner after next, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, under pressure 8th, detached after next, pulled up after 11th
A decent race of its type this one and Air Force One gets the nod ahead of Nor'nor'east and Master Alf. Those intending to back the selection need to put a line through his latest effort behind Hobbs Hill and concentrate on his abilities as a racehorse, which are considerable. He handles cut in the ground and would hammer this lot over hurdles, so we can forgive him that chase debut and give him another chance in a much easier race. Nor'nor'east alrwady has one chase under his belt and that was a decent effort in defeat at Worcester 14 months ago. Cut suits him and he certainly has ability, but with no recent run and the yard not being red hot we will oppose today. Master Alf has a decent enough record in points and would be interesting if supported, but he should find a couple too good, while Shardakhan has conditions to suit and was decent over hurdles, but is taking a little time to come to hand over fences and Air Force One looks the one to be on.
Air Force One (GER) 10-3 (11-1) In touch, hit 9th and next, no danger after, 6th of 7, 27l behind Hobbs Hill (11-8) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Curradoon (IRE) 100-1 (10-13) Keen, led, headed 4th, led again 11th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakening when mistake last, 5th of 10, 15l behind Sheriff Roscoe (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Dec.
Master Alf (IRE) 5-4fav (12-0) A handy; led 3 out; clr last, won at Detling 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Stonesfield Coney (12-0) by 10l, 14 ran.
Nor'nor'east (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, ridden to chase winner after 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Heltornic (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (3) gs in Oct '06.
Red Ensign 25-1 (10-0) Mid-division, hampered 2nd, mistake 6th, bumped and rider lost iron 7th and pulled up at the 8th in race won by Carnt Spell (10-0) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Shardakhan (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until dropped rear 6th, soon lost touch, stayed on again from 3 out, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 6, 10l behind O'maley (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chs (4) gd in Dec.
The Big Breakfast (IRE) Evensfav (12-0) Prominent, went 2nd after 4 out, ran on under pressure flat, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Machrihanish (12-0) at Milborne St Andr 3m ptp gd in Feb.
The Speaker (FR) 50-1 (10-9) Led and mistake 1st, headed 3rd, ridden 4 out and weakened, 6th of 10, 15l behind Gansey (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Gaelic Gift (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Led, jumped right 3rd, headed 8th, ridden next, 3rd and no impression when jumped right 2 out, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Cyd Charisse (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f mrs hcp hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Shikoku Lass (IRE) 25-1 (10-7) Chased leader, led 11th to next, mistake and weakened 14th, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Chico Time (10-9) at Folkestone 3m 1f mrs beg chs (4) gs in Dec.
