always in rear, tailed off and pulled up before last
raced wide, held up in rear, steady headway to chase leaders 9th, went 2nd before 2 out, no impression
jumped poorly in rear, blundered 11th and next, struggling after
raced wide, in touch, soon driven along, ridden 7th, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up before last
chased leader until 8th, stayed handy, ridden and struggling soon after 3 out, beaten when jumped left last
chased leaders, mistake 3rd, challenged 8th, hit next and 10th, led 3 out, well in command before next, eased run-in
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
led, joined 8th, blundered and headed 3 out, weakened quickly soon after
held up, ridden and mistake 10th, hit 3 out, plugged on from next
bumped 1st, chased leaders, blundered and behind from 9th, blundered 11th and pulled up
Plating grade in all but name and BLUEBERRY ICE is the most token of picks with Royal Hilarity and Justabout others to make modest appeal. Jim Best managed to reproduce the 11-year-old after a sizeable absence to finish second in a hurdles race at Fakenham. It's unlikely that the mare can reproduce some of her earlier chasing form but this is a very bad race. Royal Hilarity is Seamus Durack's only ride of the day. He is likely to be ridden aggressively if his latest effort is anything to go by. Justabout has poor form figures though that didn't stop the punters getting stuck in at Taunton last time. Tosula was disappointing at Towcester and the jury is out with regard to a step up in trip. Kappelhoff won a selling chase at Fontwell off a mark of 66. He clearly loves it around there so the switch of track and a 10lb rise in the weights make this a difficult follow up bid. Team Chaser appears modest though he has given a fair account of himself under similar conditions in the past and has the services of Jason Maguire today. This is a race where caution is advised and Blueberry Ice is therefore put forward in complete acceptance of it.
King De Lune (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Raced keenly, in touch, weakened 3 out, last of 12, well behind Cruise Director (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Tosula 7-1 (11-2) Held up, hit 6th, hampered 10th, plugged on, 7th of 13, 37l behind Zanzibar Boy (11-4) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Rock Alliance (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 12th, 6th of 15, 48l behind Solid As A Rock (10-2) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
And Your Point Is (USA) 66-1 (11-5) Prominent, ridden 5th, soon weakened and pulled up in race won by Deep Pockets (11-7) at Exeter 2m 5f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
Justabout 13-2 (11-7) Prominent when fell at the 7th in race won by Take It There (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Dec, 12 ran.
Royal Hilarity (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leader 3rd, led 9th, hit 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 14, 10l behind Mr Big (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 5f cnd hcp chs (5) gd.
Blueberry Ice (IRE) 22-1 (11-7) Held up, headway approaching 7th, soon chased winner, ridden 3 out, soon outpaced by winner, 2nd of 12, 14l behind Little Shilling (10-8) at Fakenham 2m 4f sll hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Devils River (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Led to 2nd, led again next, blundered and unseated rider at the 5th in race won by I'moncloudnine (11-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec, 15 ran.
Kappelhoff (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, challenged 3 out, led soon after 2 out, in command when left clear last, won at Fontwell 2m 4f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Dec beating Fisherman Jack (11-6) by 11l, 9 ran.
Ballyaahbutt (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Led, headed 2nd, led again 9th, all out when heading last and no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Kinkeel (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f cnd hcp chs (5) sft in Nov.
Team Chaser (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place 5 out, last of 10, well behind Solway Minstrel (10-10) at Haydock 3m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Nov.
