held up, headway 4th, led after 4 out, 3 lengths clear last, soon ridden, headed 100 yards from finish, no extra
took keen hold tracking leaders, losing place when mistake 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up, some headway 9th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
not fluent 7th, mistake 3 out, always behind
held up in touch, mistake 3rd, close 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 9th
in touch, lost place 6th, behind when hampered 9th, tailed off
led, clear after 3rd until mistake 8th, not jumped well after, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, headway 11th, chased leader 3 out, ridden after last, led 100 yards from finish, stayed on well
mistake 7th, always behind, tailed off
tracked leader until approaching 4 out, weakened after 3 out
Donovan is far from consistent but we believe he can get the better of Precious Bane and Madison Du Berlais. Richard Guest's team are in great form at the moment and having recently had a pipeopener at Kelso, it appears that Donovan has been aimed at this race for some time. He has been racing over 2 miles in the past but all evidence suggests that he should not be inconvenienced by stepping up in trip. Knocking the Martin Pipe stable seems to have become a national sport in itself in recent weeks. However, the multiple championship winning trainer should never be written off with such fragrant disregard. Madison du Berlais was held in some regard when with Guillame Macaire and he is making a British debut for Pipe. Having introduced the likes of Dom Samurai around here in the past, the market is viewed before a betting decision in made. Lord Rodney was a talented individual over hurdles but his stable would need to be in better form before he could be backed with confidence. Precious Bane has been brought back to the racecourse after a long lay-off. New connections have had a lot of fun with him but today really is the acid test from a quality perspective. Le Royal won over the fixed brush hurdles at Haydock and is another to be watched in the market. Donovan is accordingly selected.
Itsuptoharry (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway 10th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 9, 31l behind Il'Athou (11-9) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Nov.
Lord Rodney (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Led, headed 2 out, soon lost place, weakened approaching last, 6th of 7, 29l behind Diamond Cutter (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hdl (E) gs in May.
Alphabetic 6-1 (11-3) Held up behind leaders, left 2nd approaching 8th, ridden after 4 out, weakened quickly, 3rd of 5, well behind Indien Royal (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 1f beg chs (D) gs in Mar.
Le Royal (FR) 14-1 (11-4) Behind 3rd, ridden 6th, kept on flat but never on terms, 2nd of 10, well behind Jolly Boy (9-11) at Huntingdon 2m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd.
Madison Du Berlais (FR) (10-6) Prominent, effort from 2 out, no extra, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Nostra (10-1) at Auteuil 2m 1f clm chs hvy in Nov.
Valleymore (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Jumped right, led after 2nd to 4 out, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Dun Doire (10-1) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) sft.
Precious Bane (IRE) 4-1fav (10-6) Led, mistake 10th, clear 4 out, ridden 2 out, pecked last, headed close home, 2nd of 13, hd behind Datito (10-13) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (E) hvy.
Another Native (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Blundered 1st, behind, ridden along 6th, some headway under pressure approaching 4 out, soon struggling, 5th of 7, 33l behind Julies Boy (10-4) at Windsor 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Nov.
Donovan (NZ) 11-4fav (11-6) Prominent, 7 lengths down when hampered and left in lead 2 out, soon headed, one pace flat, 4th of 10, 10l behind One Five Eight (11-7) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gs.
Algarve 8-1 (10-10) Chased winner, effort between last 2, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Precious Bane (10-4) at Hexham 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Nov.
