in touch, mistake 4th, weakened 2 out
keen in touch, ridden 12th, weakened 3 out
held up, headway 8th, led approaching 2 out, clear advantage soon after, pecked last, ridden out
led, ridden when headed 7th, weakened 10th
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, one pace from 2 out, hit last
towards rear, hit 7th, one pace when mistake 3 out, plugged on after
with leader, led 7th, ridden and headed after 3 out, rallied after last
This handicap chase is not hot on quality but nonetheless it does hold some interest and we will tentatively suggest BEEHAWK to land it. Kevin Bishop's gelding won a couple of novices' chases in the spring of last year and was not seen again until being 22 lengths adrift of Oracle Des Mottes at Exeter last month. He handles cut well enough and should come on for that first run in well over a year and with the yard having a winner the other day we will suggest him to small stakes. Benitez went well at Towcester on Thursday and will be popular here. He handles cut and stays well and there is no reason why he can't go well, though his mark is far from lenient. Lescar's Lad has had some good days and seen plenty of racecourse action. Trip and ground suit him but he is fully exposed and might find a couple too good from this mark. Anshabil is an interesting runner. He beat Lescar's Lad over course and distance almost two years ago but has not been right since. David Pearson gave him a recent hurdles pipe opener and although he has plenty to prove now he remains on that same winning mark of 90. Kedgeree will find this slightly easier than some of his previous tasks, but even so he hasn't been totally convincing and we will suggest BEEHAWK here.
Kedgeree 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, mistake 5th, some headway 13th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 24l behind Kilrogan (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Benitez (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led after 2nd, headed approaching 2 out, soon relegated to 3rd, left 2nd throughout, no extra towards finish, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind High Jack (11-3) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Beehawk 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 22l behind Oracle des Mottes (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Oct.
Pret A Thou (FR) 14-1 (11-6) Pulled hard, soon in touch, not fluent 2nd, weakend approaching 9th, 7th of 12, 40l behind Silvergino (10-5) at Southwell 2m cnd hcp chs (4) gd in Oct.
Scalini's (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Mid-division, no extra from before 3 out, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Mac Robin (9-8) at Clonmel 2m 4f hcp chs 0-109 gd in Sept, 16 ran.
Anshabil (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) Pulled hard in touch, lost place before 3 out, 11th of 12, well behind Star Tenor (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Regal Term (IRE) 33-1 (10-2) In touch, hit 3rd and 9th, weakened 13th, 10th of 11, well behind Stern (10-12) at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar '07.
Lescer's Lad 66-1 (10-9) Always behind, last of 14, well behind Lake Legend (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd.
Roseville (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, lost place after 5th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 23l behind High Jack (11-3) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
