chased leader, lost place 7th, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened flat
held up, headway after 7th, 4th when blundered 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, led last, driven clear flat, eased towards finish
led to approaching 3 out, hung left and weakened before next
held up, headway 7th, outpaced 3 out, kept on flat
behind, ridden 3 out, kept on flat, never dangerous
chased leaders, ridden after 7th, soon weakened
in touch, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra flat
Bannow Strand looks to be the one here, with his main dangers given as Bleu Superbe and Sir Storm. It is very hard to get away from Bannow Strand following his facile Cheltenham success at the Open Meeting, and he looks a horse to follow. His biggest dangers could prove to be Blue Superbe, who showed that he was as good as ever when chasing home Armaturk at Exeter last time, as he had done in the same race the year before, Island Faith, who is 10 pounds above a winning mark but who ran well when second to Encore Cadoudal off a two-pounds lower mark at Perth last time, and Sir Storm, who is now seven pounds below his Perth winning mark of April 2004, and who seemed to hint at a return to form last time. Overall, though, the choice has to be Bannow Strand.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 7-1 (10-8) Led, ridden and narrowly headed 3 out, stayed chasing winner after, held before last, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Armaturk (11-12) at Lingfield 2m lst hcp chs (A) gd in Oct.
Tribal Dispute 12-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 6th, chasing leaders when blundered badly 5 out, hampered and brought down 5 out in race won by Provocative (11-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Oct, 10 ran.
Island Faith (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Held up, effort and in touch when mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden last, stayed on well, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Encore Cadoudal (10-10) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Apr.
Jericho III (FR) 5-2 (11-7) Led and jumped right, mistake 2nd, ridden and headed 3 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Dangerousdanmagru (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) hvy.
Sir Storm (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, soon tracking leaders, chasing leaders when badly hampered 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace from last, 4th of 10, 7l behind Provocative (11-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Oct.
Kids Inheritance (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, jumped left 7th, ridden when jumped left and bumped 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 19l behind Gone Too Far (11-9) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Sept.
New Bird (GER) 12-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 8th to last, no extra run-in, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Power Unit (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Oct.
Bannow Strand (IRE) 11-8fav (10-6) Tracked leaders and going well, led approaching 6th, clear approaching last, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs beating Shalako (11-3) by 8l, 16 ran.
