tracked leaders in 3rd, hit 8th, fell 10th
tracked leader, blundered 2nd, blundered 8th, led 2 out, kept on well from last
in rear, hit 8th, pushed along after next, left third 10th, soon tailed off
led, headed 2 out, weakened approaching last
A fair bit of interest for us in this beginners' chase, where GANSEY is selected to have the edge over Heraldry, while Weird Al is one to note. The last-named represents the in-form Ian Williams yard, and he will relish this ground, having run just twice, both times on soft, and going well each occasion including a win on his hurdles debut last year. He has not been seen since then, but with the stable's runners in form and his good record when fresh, there is every chance that he could show up well. Heraldry also loves the mud, with all four of his career wins coming when there has been juice in the ground. He stays further than this, and connections will hope for better than his sole previous attempt over fences at Newcastle, when he was a beaten faller. Fellow mudlark Mister Watzisname will have to improve to win this, while Big Burrows looks a better proposotion. Being by Supreme Leader, he should stay and act on the ground, and he could give the selection plenty to do. That pick is Gansey. Sue Smith's gelding acts well on the going, races over his optimum trip, and looks sure to come on plenty for a decent debut in this sphere at Carlisle. All of that means that we want to be on his side today.
Big Burrows (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, effort 3 out, outpaced next, no impression when left 6 lengths down in 2nd last, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Zemsky (11-3) at Perth 3m nh nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Gansey (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 10th, went 2nd approaching 4 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Checkerboard (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f beg chs (4) gf in Oct.
Heraldry (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up, hampered 6th, headway before next, weakened after 9th, virtually pulled up flat, tailed off, 13th of 15, well behind Snake Charmer (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gs in Mar.
Mister Watzisname (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Not fluent, chased leader, led 4th, headed and mistake 4 out, weakening when blundered badly 2 out, 3rd of 4, 24l behind Calusa Caldera (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Weird Al (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, led before 2 out, stayed on well flat, won at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Nov '08 beating Tisfreetdream (11-5) by 4l, 18 ran.
