in touch, pushed along 4 out, soon lost place
held up, headway before 6th, soon prominent, led before and hit 3 out, soon headed, weakened before next
held up, hit 4th, struggling next, lost action and soon pulled up
held up in touch, lost place before 4 out
behind, headway approaching 3 out, every chance after next, kept on same pace flat
held up, headway 3 out, chased leaders under pressure approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway after 4 out, led 2 out, stayed on under pressure
held up in touch, pushed along and led soon after 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace
always behind
mid-division, headway after 4 out, hit next, weakened before 2 out
held up in touch, weakened before 3 out
pulled hard and prominent, ridden and weakened 3 out
always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
tracked leader, led 2nd, headed before 3 out, soon weakened
led until 2nd, remained prominent, every chance 3 out, weakened next
held up, headway approaching 2 out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on well
in touch, chased leaders 2 out, soon no impression
Plenty of chances here and among the more obvious contenders appear to be Fort Ord, Archduke Ferdinand and Methodical and we side with Fort Ord. The selection would have won last time out had his conditional rider not dropped the whip when negotiating the last and with Tony McCoy taking over in the plate - there should be no wanting for strength in the saddle. Archduke Ferdinand is no back number but has a card that is littered with disappointments given his obvious ability. He ran lamentably in the face of strong support at Aintree and he has to be taken on trust on this occasion. Methodical may not have been too highly tried in comparison although Brendan Powell's yard are in good nick at the moment and a bold run can be anticipated. Precious Mystery handles any surface but has found winning a difficult proposition. Talarive stays three miles effectively and ran a fair enough race at Musselburgh on his most recent bow. Hillcrest is tried in handicaps for the first time while soft ground lover, Woodford Consult is from a yard that are flying at the moment. Fort Ord receives the selection in a competitive opener.
Precious Mystery (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) In touch, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 4th of 8, 19l behind Bonchester Bridge (10-8) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov.
Ice And Soda (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Soon behind, tailed off, last of 9, well behind Archie Babe (10-1) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Whist Drive 5-2jt-fav (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 8th, headway from next, chased leaders before 2 out, led well before last, driven and held on run-in, won at Folkestone 2m 6f nov hdl (E) sft in Jan '05 beating Alagon (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Killone Moonlight (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Chased leader until 5th, ridden 5 out, weakened 3 out, 4th of 7, 27l behind Goblet of Fire (11-0) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (C) gd in Nov '05.
Archduke Ferdinand (FR) 9-2fav (11-7) In touch, lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Rothbury (11-8) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) gd in Nov, 20 ran.
Fort Ord (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Held up, headway 8th, chased leaders 3 out, rider lost whip after last, driven and stayed on strongly flat, just failed, 2nd of 9, nk behind Delightful Cliche (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Stars Delight (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) In touch, driven along after 5th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 7, 22l behind Love Angel (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Fleetwood Forest 5-1 (11-1) Held up, reminders approaching 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Alagon (10-13) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Mar '05, 10 ran.
Hillcrest (NZ) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, 7th of 19, 18l behind Spear Thistle (10-12) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Corals Laurel (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Ridden 7th, always behind, tailed off from 8th, 8th of 13, well behind Always Waining (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Apr.
Ring The Boss (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 3 out, effort when hit next, ridden and one pace flat, 4th of 15, 11l behind Windy Hills (11-10) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
Talarive (USA) 22-1 (11-6) Mid-division, tracked leaders approaching 3 out, soon one pace, 5th of 11, 7l behind Noir Et Vert (11-9) at Musselburgh 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Star of Germany (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) In touch, ridden 3 out, stayed on approaching last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 20, 1 1/2l behind Classic Rock (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Nov.
Donald (POL) 5-1 (11-2) Chased leader, led after 5th to 8th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Portland Bill (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Storm Prince (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Led to 2nd, prominent to 6th, soon behind, last of 6, 26l behind Exstoto (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Oct.
Woodford Consult 8-1 (11-7) Always behind and mistakes, struggling from 5th, 9th of 11, well behind Presenting Alf (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
Methodical 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, joined leader 2 out, every chance and headed last, weakened flat, 5th of 12, 7l behind Heavy Weather (11-12) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Tobesure (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) In touch, ridden 3 out, never on terms, 7th of 15, well behind Windy Hills (11-10) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
