always towards rear
held up behind, ridden and struggling from 4 out, some headway next, no impression
tracked leaders, led after 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, in 3rd and weakening when blundered last
led to 2nd, led again 3rd, headed 4 out, weakened approaching next
in touch, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed last, no chance with winner
tracked leaders to 3rd, mid-division, reminders after 4th, headway 7th, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, reminders after 7th, weakened after 3 out
always behind
tracked leader, led 2nd, headed 3rd, mistake and rider lsot iron 5th,led again 4 out, soon headed, weakened 3 out
held up behind, headway 8th, led last, ridden clear run-in
tracked leaders, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
A typically competitive handicap chase and one in which there will be no room for sloppy fencing. The shortlist includes Oso Magic, Simply Gifted and Barton Nic and our verdict is for the last mentioned. Barton Nic is a thirteen year old but he has been rejuvenated by rookie trainer, Paul Keane. Still relatively well treated in relation to his hurdling mark, he won his last sortie over the trip when dotting up by a wide margin at Plumpton. His second to course specialist Schuh Shine reads well and he is off a featherweight this afternoon. Simply Gifted is having his first run for a while but is a course specialist. He has put up some sterling efforts under big weights in the past and can stay on when others have cried enough. Oso Magic has been in solid form throughout the course of the season. Sue Smith was able to keep him on the boil with a recent win over hurdles at Wetherby. Nostra is very much an unknown quantity. She beat Madison du Berlais in her last start in the provinces and the market is accordingly watched. Dangerousdanmagru has no problems when the mud flies and he would enter calculations if his recent run is overlooked. Sir Storm is another who handles the surface. He appeared not to stay two-and-a-half miles around Haydock so might prefer this afternoon's task. He could be taken on by Kids Inheritance. Malcolm Jefferson's yard are in fair form at the moment and while Kids Inheritance has not had too much use of him on this surface, he has shown an aptitude in the past. Nowator is a course-and-distance winner from December. He is prone to make mistakes and cannot afford them to surface at this level. A fascinating battle between early pace and stout staying and we will take Barton Nic on this occasion.
Simply Gifted 8-1 (11-5) Towards rear, progress 6 out, 5th before 4 out, 6th 3 out, soon no extra, 7th of 23, 25l behind Jasmin D'Oudairies (10-8) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 sft in Apr.
Dangerousdanmagru (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) In rear, effort 11th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Noisetine (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (C) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Oso Magic 15-8 (10-4) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden next, kept on, won at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (D) sft in Dec beating Diamond Sal (11-6) by 2l, 8 ran.
Lusaka De Pembo (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Keen, mid-division, headway 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 12th of 18, well behind Drumbeater (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Dec.
Nowator (POL) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 4th, hit 5th and 6th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off pulled up 2 out in race won by Schuh Shine (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft, 10 ran.
Flight Command 50-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, outpaced 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, no impression, 4th of 13, 33l behind Sir Storm (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Dec.
Sir Storm (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Prominent to 4 out, soon weakened, 7th of 10, well behind Schuh Shine (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Encore Cadoudal (FR) 16-1 (10-5) Mid-division, mistake 5 out, ridden and blundered next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Kelrev (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Dec, 13 ran.
Kids Inheritance (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Led to 4th, chased winner, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 19l behind Good Outlook (10-10) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Barton Nic 8-1 (9-9) Held up, bumped 2nd, headway after 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Schuh Shine (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Nostra (FR) (10-1) Made most, stayed oon strongly, won at Auteuil 2m 1f clm chs hvy in Nov beating Madison Du Berlais (10-6) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
