close up when pulled up and dismounted after 6th (lame)
mistakes, always in rear, mistake and struggling 6th, tailed off
always in rear, mistakes 6th, continued, tailed off
held up in touch, headway to track leaders 7th, ridden and no impression after 3 out, left moderate at last
tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, led 7th, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner
jumped left, led until jumped violently left and headed 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 9th
tracked leaders, went 2nd at 10th, hit 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, soon in command and edged right, clear last
tracked leaders, not fluent, went 2nd 7th, weakening when blundered 4 out
held up in touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, staying on and challenging for 2nd when blundered and fell last
Reach For The Top, Hibernian and Swift Thyne are the three to note here with the vote going to the last named. Swift Thyne comes from the in form Tom George yard and was in winning form last time out when scoring in the point to point field. Now this is a rise in grade but he is very lightly raced and wont have to be a world beater to score his first win under rules. Reach For The Top has bits and bobs of form but can be a tricky customer to rely on. He is still a maiden after ten runs but has Tony McCoy booked to force him home which could lead to a false price. Having said that any market moves should be noted. The same can be said for Hibernian who ran well to finish second over two miles around here last time out. This step up in trip should suit. But for the winner we return to Swift Thyne.
Arctic Rainbow (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until weakened before 2 out, 4th of 13, 15l behind Back To Ben Alder (11-0) at Sandown 2m nh nov hdl (D) gd in Mar '04.
Black Shan (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Always behind, blundered 3rd, tailed off 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Killaghy Castle (11-0) at Folkestone 2m 1f nh nov hdl (E) gs in Nov '05.
Grandpops Joy (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Behind, reminders after 4th, blundered 6th, mistake 3 out, 4th and no chance when blundered and unseated rider 2 out in race won by Ofarel D'airy (10-7) at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (4) gs, 5 ran.
Hibernian (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Made most, headed 6th, chased winner after, no impression from 2 out, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Ofarel D'airy (10-7) at Folkestone 2m mdn chs (4) gs.
Le Rochelais (FR) 7-1 (10-13) In touch, led after 11th, ridden when fell 5 out in race won by Jimmy Bond (10-11) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Mac Reamoinn (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, lost place before 7th, hampered 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Money Line (11-0) at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (4) sft in Dec.
Reach For The Top (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, blundered 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 7, 44l behind Irish Raptor (10-9) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Dec.
Swift Thyne (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Lft 2nd 3; lft in ld 9; rdn clr 2 out; stayed on wl, won at Bredwardine 3m ptp gd in May beating Granary House (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
One Step Closer (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Always towards rear and never a factor, 6th of 11, 30l behind Maletton (11-5) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs.
