held up in rear, took keen hold, over jumped 1st, headway 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, blundered last
took keen hold, chased leading pair, led and hit 5th, hung violently left bend after 3 out and headed, not recover
mid-division, closed after 3rd, left in lead bend after 3 out, quicken flat, ran on well
led to 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
chased leader to 5th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off
held up in last, well beaten after 5th, tailed off
unruly before start, held up towards rear, took keen hold, mistake 4th, headway next, challenged 3 out, not fluent 2 out, ridden and edged left approaching last, outpaced by winner flat
mid-division, raced keenly, not fluent 3rd, closed soon after, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
Nonrunner
Division Two looks even more competitive but with Tony McCoy an eyecatching booking for the well-bred ASHAMMAR we feel compelled to side with Paul Webber's gelding at the expense of Wizard Of Odds and Cheshire Prince. We have just the one start to look at for the selection and that was a solid effort at Lyon on the level. As a half brother to the top-class Ashkazar he should improve for the introduction to jumping and this trip and ground should be perfect. Wizard Of Odds has the benefit of experience over obstacles and has held his form well in three starts. He set a useful enough standard so we wouldn't be surprised to see him go very well. Cheshire Prince was useful on the flat racing off marks in the 90's. If he can transfer that form into this sphere he should be a good performer at this level. Savaronola should be fit after a few solid spins on the level but in a tricky race to solve we'll take a chance on the pedigree of Ashammar.
Argentis (FR) 66-1 (10-12) In touch, outpaced over 5f out, 11th of 16, 37l behind Bangkok Pete (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gd in May.
Ashammar (FR) King's Best gelding out of Asharna.
Cheshire Prince 18-1 (9-3) Chased leader to over 2f out, soon weakened, last of 6, 15l behind Alcalde (8-9) at Warwick 1m 3f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Oct (flat).
Chinese Profit 50-1 (11-0) Towards rear, struggling halfway, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Slip (10-9) at Stratford 2m mdn hdl (3) gf in Oct, 13 ran.
Savaronola (USA) 14-1 (10-9) 9th of 18, 43l behind El Fontan (10-12) at Killarney 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl gs in Aug '08.
Tutto Bene (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Held up, always behind, tailed off 2 out, 9th of 10, well behind King Fontaine (10-12) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Wizard of Odds 9-4 (10-12) Held up, pulled hard, went handy 4th, close 2nd briefly after 3 out, 3rd and beaten between last 2, 3rd of 7, 10l behind Wolf Moon (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Wonderwinder (IRE) 100-1 (10-11) Mid-division, hampered 5th, went modest 4th when mistake 2 out, 4th of 11, 22l behind Aohna (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m NH mdn hdl (5) gd.
Laertes Cause 50-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Browns Baily (11-4) at Thurles 2m 2f mdn hdl sft in Nov '08, 16 ran.
Rock 'n' Roller (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, fell 3 out, in a race won by Mr Plod (10-7) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd, 17 ran.
