chased leader to 6th, driven 9th, weakened 11th, tailed off
held up, blundered 8th, struggling when stumbled badly on landing 12th, pulled up before next
chased leaders, ridden from 4 out, weakened flat
not travelling well in last place until pulled up before 7th
held up, hampered 2nd, behind from 8th, tailed off
held up in touch, went 2nd 6th, led after 4 out, jumped left 3 out, stayed on well
held up, headway approaching 9th, weakened after last
in touch, lost place 5th, headway 3 out, stayed on to go 2nd post
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, driven 7th, headway 11th, mistake 2 out, chased winner last, no extra and headed post
pulled hard, led, slipped on landing 2nd, ridden and headed after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
Almire du Lia is preferred to Blunham Hill and Jballingall in our penultimate race. Sue Bradburne's charge won a weak race at Newcastle on his most recent racecourse start. A perusal at his previous form does suggest that he should handle the surface as he won a Novice chase at the same track on heavy going in 2004. A drop in trip should not inconvenience as conditions at the Merseyside track are likely to be very testing. Jballingall finished second to Spring Gamble in an early season race at Wetherby. That rival did not uphold the form so there is an obvious negative for his backers here. On the positive side, he does have an exceedingly low racing weight and the benefits could well be witnessed come the closing stages of the race. Blunham Hill has been in good heart and more pertinently, good form of late. However, the value of his most recent form was let down by a woeful effort by Runaway Bishop on Friday. Herons Ghyll was a useful hurdler for Venetia Williams prior to absence. He is unproven in conditions this soft but he has always looked a chasing type in the making. Front running, The Extra Man is now eleven years of age and perhaps needs to come down the weights before he will be taking a deserved turn in the winners enclosure. Lutin du Moulin is out of form at present and is probably best avoided. A trappy race but one in which Almire Du Lia has more positives than most.
The Extra Man (IRE) 11-2 (10-6) Led to 7th, tracked leader until 11th, weakened quickly 4 out, 6th of 10, 31l behind Va Vavoom (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (E) gs.
Heron's Ghyll (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Prominent until weakened 3 out, 14th of 20, well behind Accipiter (11-4) at Ascot 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Mar '04.
Almire du Lia (FR) 25-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, led 11th, headed 5 out, ridden approaching 4 out, led 3 out, hung right after last, all out, won at Newcastle 3m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Nov beating Moscow Leader (11-5) by a hd, 14 ran.
Lutin du Moulin (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Held up in touch, took closer order 12th, ridden after 4 out, in 5th and weakening when hampered 3 out, 4th of 6, 31l behind Villair (11-10) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft.
Falchion 20-1 (10-0) Held up, weakened 11th, behind when pulled up in race won by Silver Knight (10-6) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Nov, 9 ran.
Blunham Hill (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) In touch, lost place 7th, soon ridden, rallied approaching 2 out, stayed on well to lead towards finish, won at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Nov beating Runaway Bishop (10-3) by 1l, 11 ran.
Cyborsun (FR) 25-1 (10-5) Always in rear, mistake 5th, lost touch 8th, mistake and pulled up at the 9th in race won by Benrajah (10-13) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gf in Apr, 11 ran.
Pardini (USA) 13-2 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden 9th, weakened 12th, 5th of 7, 45l behind Strong Magic (10-3) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gf in Nov.
Lochiedubs 14-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 4th, 8th of 15, 38l behind General Duroc (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f amt hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Nov.
Jballingall 13-2 (10-0) Led or disputed lead to 10th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, kept on from next, no impression, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Spring Gamble (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Oct.
