not jumped well, held up in rear, weakened 10th, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out
made all, ridden approaching 2 out, ran on strongly
held up in rear, headway and mistake 3 out, soon beaten, pulled up before next
tracked leaders when fell 3rd
held up in touch, slow 4th, ridden 3 out, beaten when hampered 2 out
chased winner until 3 out, soon ridden, weakened next
held up, headway to go in touch 10th, chased winner soon after 2 out, kept on one pace
close up, ridden to chase winner 3 out, 2nd and looked held, when unseated rider 2 out
ALBINUS is taken to defy his penalty acquired for his win at this venue last month, his fellow penalised rival Tartak looks his chief threat. Throw in Edgeover, the long absent Tarotino and Overclear and this has the makings of an interesting novice chase. Albinus, leading fancy for last season's Imperial Cup at Sandown was only workmanlike on debut but subsequent events have suggested that it might not have been a bad contest. The third French Saulaie finished second in a decent novice event at Cheltenham since while the step up to the 2m 4f will suit around this tight circuit. While his relatively inexperienced rider's claim is a benefit, conceding weight all round here is a different story to last time but his can see him through. Tartak was all the rage in the market prior to his UK debut. He had shown plenty in France beforehand but that Newton Abbot contest in which he made his debut did not have any quality in it. Edgeover is lightly raced but has not fulfilled the promise he displayed on debut. His form tailed off badly on his last couple of runs but it looked as if the ground was totally against him. Tarotino returns from 578 days off the track. Making his debut here for Alan King having formerly been trained by Nicky Henderson, his novice hurdle form stacks up quite well despite his final start. It would be asking a lot of him to make a winning reappearance but if he retains any ability he should be up to picking up a novice chase, possibly on testing ground in which he clearly revels. Overclear qualifies for a handicap mark following this race and that his where this former decent novice hurdler should be more competitive while Or Jaune, behind Tarotino at Sandown in April '07 should be all the better for the initial experience here.
Albinus 4-1 (10-9) Held up, closed 4th, challenged last, soon led, pushed out, won at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gs in Oct beating Chaninbar (11-8) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Tartak (FR) 8-13fav (11-0) Led, jumped right 1st, headed 4th, led 7th, shaken up 2 out, driven out flat, won at N Abbot 2m 5f beg chs (5) sft in Jun beating Silver Sister (10-7) by 18l, 8 ran.
Edgeover 16-1 (10-13) In touch, ridden and every chance 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 11, well behind Motorway (11-4) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
Nyborg Madrik (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hit 1st, badly hampered 3rd, soon behind, no chance when pulled up 4 out in race won by Island Flyer (10-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Mar, 16 ran.
Or Jaune (FR) 5-1fav (10-8) Mid-division, headway approaching 6th, stumbled soon after 8th, soon driven, beaten when mistake last, 4th of 15, 12l behind Schindlers Son (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in May.
Overclear 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to dispute close 3rd 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 22l behind The Tother One (11-4) at Exeter 3m beg chs (3) gs in Oct.
Tarotino (FR) 5-2fav (11-0) Mid-division, reminders 4th, struggling from next, 13th of 16, well behind Or Jaune (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr '07.
The Vicar (IRE) 11-2 (11-6) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 13, 9l behind Ouzbeck (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
