tracked leaders, keen, went 2nd after 4 out, every chance next, weakened towards finish
made all, blundered 3 out, stayed on well flat
held up in touch, weakened approaching 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, chasing leaders when stumbled 2 out, stayed on from last
held up in touch, outpaced 3 out, stayed on from last
with leader, blundered 6th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
Withdrawn
MASSINI'S MAGUIRE is the call with Naiad Du Misselot and Will Be Done put up as the alternatives. Despite jumping sketchily in the early stages, Massini's Maguire gave a fair account against Breedsbreeze last time out and provided that the race hasn't taken too much out of him, he holds fair claims of taking today's contest. Coral Cup winner, Naiad Du Misselot jumped badly at Ascot so it is to be hoped that going the other way round rectifies the problem. Will Be Done has won back to back races at Wetherby. On the negative, the second rather let the form down earlier in the week. Wind Instrument represents a yard that are in better form than what they once were. Front running Tartak was not disgraced at Cheltenham in the Dipper Chase. He may be better suited by this flatter track. Turkish Surprise made Deep Purple pull out all of the stops at Ascot and could be capable of improvement. Auroras Encore landed a serious gamble at Sedgefield though today looks a much tougher assignment. Massini's Maguire gets the vote.
Tartak (FR) 5-2 (11-4) Led at decent pace, hit 12th and 4 out, headed before 2 out, lost 2nd soon after and weakened, 3rd of 5, 13l behind Calgary Bay (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs.
Will Be Done (IRE) 9-4 (11-9) Made all, jumped right from 4 out, mistake last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (3) sft in Dec beating Pop (11-5) by 15l, 4 ran.
Mister Watzisname (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden along from 6th, weakened approaching 4 out, modest 5th when fell 4 out in race won by Deep Purple (11-0) at Taunton 2m beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Naiad du Misselot (FR) 6-1 (11-0) Jumped left and got progressively worse, chased leading pair until 7th, pecked next, soon behind, last of 5, well behind Deep Purple (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Turkish Surprise (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up behind leaders, disputed 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, kept on for clear 2nd approaching last, always held by winner, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Deep Purple (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Dec.
Wind Instrument (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, led approaching 4 out, pressed 2 out, ridden and stayed on well, won at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec beating Nakai (11-0) by 3l, 6 ran.
Massini's Maguire (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Jumped sketchily early, led to 4th, chased leader, led 8th, hit 12th, driven and headed 2 out, weakened after last, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Breedsbreeze (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Dec.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden and chased leader after 3 out, led approaching last, driven out run-in, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Dec beating Osolomio (11-0) by 2l, 12 ran.
