tracked leader, mistake 9th, lost place and mistake 11th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid to rear, closer order 12th, stumbled 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, in 6th when fell last
tracked leaders, mistake 5 out, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, awkward 5th, slow next, ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-division, lost place 6th, mistake next, pulled up before 12th
mid-division, closer order and mistake 12th and 13th, tracked winner from 4 out, ridden 3 out and one pace
tracked leaders, weakened 4 out
towards rear, closer order 10th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, one pace
tracked leaders, mistake and ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
made all, jumped left 4th, hit 8th, clear after 3 out, ridden out
Snakebite gets the vote here with Ballybough Jack and Forest Miller rating the main dangers. The selection was a fair second behind Denman last time out, this looks easier and under conditions that suit and with improvement likely, he will be hard to beat. Ballybough Jack rates the main danger as he was a fair sort over hurdles and hails from a yard in top form, but the suspicion is he may just need the run after a 609-day absence and he is taken on with this in mind. Forest Miller is another that could go well on his latest second behind Mister Sher in a hurdle. He is sure to have been well schooled for this his chasing debut and should be noted in the market. Of the remainder Presen't M'Lord is another that has shown ability but he may be seen to better effect over a longer trip in time and with this in mind for the winner we return to Snakebite.
Ascoolasice 100-1 (10-5) Prominent, blundered 10th, weakened 12th and pulled up at the 13th in race won by Character Building (10-12) at Warwick 3m 2f beg chs (4) gs, 6 ran.
Ballybough Jack (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Chased leaders, led on bit 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, found nil, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Clyffe Hanger (11-4) at Exeter 2m 1f nhf (H) gd in Apr '05.
Bennett (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Behind, pecked 1st, driven 12th, under pressure from 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 27l behind The Luder (11-6) at Kempton 3m beg chs (4) gs in Nov.
Captain Machell (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders to approaching 8th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Jonny's Kick (11-2) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (4) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Forest Miller 11-4jt-fav (10-13) Led, mistake 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Mister Sher (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Hambaphambili 14-1 (10-11) Held up, mistake 8th, left 2nd 9th, weakened 15th, mistake and unseated rider 3 out, remounted, 3rd of 5, well behind Neysauteur (11-12) at Ascot 3m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Heartofmidlothian (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Always behind, 16th of 20, 48l behind Bugle Major (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m nhf (H) gd in Dec '04.
Iris De Balme (FR) (9-11) 6th of 13, 17l behind Bayokos (10-3) at Auteuil 2m 5f hcp in Nov.
Lenny 66-1 (11-2) Held up, hit 8th, pushed along next, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out, chased winner approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 8, 12l behind The Reverend (11-2) at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov.
Nagam (FR) 40-1 (10-13) Held up, 6th and 7 lengths down when mistaken and unseated rider at the 12th in race won by An Accordion (10-13) at Leicester 2m 7f mdn chs (4) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Present M'lord (IRE) 2-1fav (10-10) Held up, blundered 9th, stayed on one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Down The Stretch (10-13) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (3) gf in Nov.
Snakebite (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Led to 9th, jumped left from 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Denman (11-7) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) hvy in Nov.
