tracked leaders, led 3 out, ridden and headed, close 4th when fell 2 out
always behind, lost touch 5th
held up towards rear, some headway after 5th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway approaching 4th, ridden after next, beaten before 2 out
led to 4th, hit next, weakened 2 out
with leader, led 4th to 3 out, still every chance 2 out, weakened well before last
in touch, challenged after 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden and headed last, one pace flat
behind from 3rd, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, pushed along after 4th, headway on inside approaching 2 out, led and went right last, stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, headway 4th, led 2 out, soon headed, weakened last
prominent, ridden after 5th, close 5th when hit and hampered 2 out, soon beaten
in touch, weakened 3 out
held up, weakened 3 out
held up in rear, well beaten before 3 out
held up towards rear, reminders after 5th, some headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up, always in rear
An interesting contest where the lightly-raced DARIZAN is just preferred to Tifoso. The Victor Dartnall-trained selection has not been seen since landing a maiden hurdle here over course and distance, in similar conditions, in February of last year. Although that wasn't a red hot contest, he has very few miles on the clock and his trainer can certainly improve his inmates to good effect, and is well capable of preparing one to win after a long break and we will take a chance with him. Tifoso has shown good form in his native France and both trip and ground suit. It is impossible to assess the worth of his two wins in the provinces during May and June but he has since joined Alan King and is therefore very much respected on his British debut. Jardin De Vienne is an exposed performer who showed his best bit of form for a while at Lingfield in November and can get competitive from a 4lb higher mark, though it is hard to see him winning. Supsonic will have to work harder than when landing a Leicester selling handicap hurdle last time out but the ground suits and he can again go well, while Tender Falcon is going the right way and represents a yard in form, so a market check is very much advised. Without that knowledge we'll take Darizan to score.
Smoothly Does It 17-2 (11-8) Held up in rear, ridden and struggling 3 out, 6th and well beaten when hit 2 out, 6th of 10, 22l behind Stradbrook (11-2) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Dalaram (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up, lost touch 5th, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Olympian (11-0) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
Supsonic 9-4jt-fav (10-5) With leader, led 3 out, stayed on well flat, won at Leicester 2m sll hdl (5) sft beating Roisin's Prince (11-0) by 4l, 9 ran.
Jardin De Vienne (FR) 4-1 (10-9) In touch, left 2nd 3 out until 2 out, rallied under pressure run in, closed as winner idled towards finish, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Stradbrook (11-2) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Glinton 14-1 (10-11) Led, ridden and hit 2 out, headed last, weakened flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Stradbrook (11-2) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
Demi Beau 3-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, reminders 5th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 10th of 13, well behind Final Bid (11-9) at Ludlow 2m sll hdl (5) sft in Feb.
Night Cru 11-2 (10-12) Held up, hit 4th, outpaced approaching 3 out, 5th of 10, 33l behind Latanier (10-9) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (3) hvy.
Hero Again (IRE) 66-1 (11-4) Held up, towards rear when pulled up 4 out in race won by Baodai (10-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct '07, 13 ran.
Tender Falcon 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 14, 7l behind Clova Island (10-7) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) sft.
Captain Tidds (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden in close 6th when fell 3 out in race won by Dovedale (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Insignia (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Mid-division, mistake 4th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Ned Ludd (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
Tifoso (FR) (10-10) Won at Nantes 1m 7f hdl sft in Jun beating Sadhos (10-5) by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Webbswood Lad (IRE) 28-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, behind from 6th, 10th of 13, well behind Grizebeck (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
Monsieur (FR) 40-1 (11-11) Led after 1st, headed 4th, weakened after next, struggling soon after, 13th of 14, 24l behind Rosoff (10-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy.
Darizan (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Chased clear leading pair, headway to track leader 3 out, led 2 out, kept on well and hung left close home, won at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb '07 beating Jaunty Flight (10-10) by 4l, 10 ran.
Temple Place (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, well behind Olympian (11-0) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft.
