held up, struggling towards rear when blundered and fell 8th
tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 2 out, driven to challenge approaching last, no impression flat
held up, headway 7th, weakened from 4 out, tailed off when jumped left 2 out, pulled up before last
led, soon well clear, headed soon after 3 out, weakened quickly
not fluent 2nd, chased leader to 5th, hard ridden, kept on same pace from 4 out
in touch, mistake 6th, outpaced from 3 out
prominent, went 2nd 5th, led soon after 3 out, jumped left last, stayed on well flat
jumped poorly, behind when blundered 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, blundered badly 6th, blundered next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
The forecast favourite Flinders Chase looks worth taking on in this novices' handicap chase. Third in each of his four starts this season, most recently when six lengths behind Prominent Profile at Newbury, Charlie Mann's gelding is becoming expensive to follow and, while holding solid place claims, he may again have to settle for minor honours. Lavinia Taylor's Macgyver ran up to the form of the jolly on his most recent start when second to Catchatan at Leicester last month and holds similar claims but the selection is the Paul Nicholls-trained Tommy Trooper. A bumper winner when with Ken Comerford, the son of Infantry overcame a near two year lay off to win over hurdles for his new connections at Fontwell in heavy ground last term. Although slightly disappointing when favourite for his chase debut at Wincanton on Boxing Day, the selection may have needed the outing after another spell on the sidelines and, while his current well-being is a concern, he has the ability to beat these if back to his best. The Venetia Williams-trained Alpha Centauri has shown very little, from admittedly limited opportunities, since coming over from Ireland where the Alphabatim gelding was a winner in bumper company and a bigger danger to the selection may be Richard Rowe's Renaloo who showed improved form when chasing home Skinsey Finnegan over course and distance last time.
