always prominent, chased winner 11th, ridden approaching last, no impression flat
made virtually all, ridden approaching last, stayed on well
chased leaders on outside, mistake and lost place 11th, behind after
prominent until not fluent 7th, soon in rear, mistake 13th, stayed on to scrap for modest 3rd flat
travelled strongly towards rear, headway 9th, close 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
chased winner after 2nd until not fluent 11th, hampered 3 out, hit 2 out, soon ridden, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, very tired and lost 2 places flat
behind, not fluent, stayed on approaching last, went 3rd flat, never dangerous
held up towards rear on inside, headway 8th, mistake 12th, weakened before next
chased leaders, stumbled slightly 7th, lost place 10th, pulled up before last
prominent, stumbled 2nd, mistake 12th, soon ridden, weakened before next
in rear, jumped slowly 4th, behind when blundered 12th, pulled up after 2 out
in rear, soon pushed along, behind 10th, soon tailed off and pulled up
When ZANZIBAR BOY is good he's very good, when he's bad he's shocking, but with the yard in form we'll take the plunge in selecting him to beat Pipo De Re and Costa Courta. It could be a good day for Nicky Henderson who again saddles our selection, himself a winner of three from eight starts over fences. The most recent of those successes came last time when too good for Herecomestanley at Fakenham, an effort for which he's been given a 5lb penalty. That seems perfectly fair with a solid benchmark back in third and there may yet be more to come from the lightly-raced 11-year-old. Should he throw in a shocker as he has been inclined to previously then Pipo De Re may oblige, although Venetia Williams' charge needs to bounce back from a fall last time. That was over this trip at Chepstow on testing ground so conditions should be suitable and the gelding looked booked for second at worst at the time, so a solitary pound rise in the weights doesn't seem as unreasonable as at first it might. Costa Courta has had just the nine starts and could yet prove capable of better having seemingly improved for similar conditions last time. He's another who goes up just a pound for taking second and his conqueror that day was the talented if unpredictable Ringaroses, so the handicapper's reaction once again seems justifiable. Bobby Gee would've got up had his last race been over this trip so off a mark of 112 he's got a chance, along with Nagam who is becoming well treated but might want better ground. Josear is a mile winner on the flat whilst his sole national hunt success came over two so this trip may prove too far, Noakarad De Verzee is unfortunate to have to race off the same mark as when slammed last time and Quazy De Joie made mistakes before being pulled up last time. This is difficult to solve but when on song Zanzibar Boy is a cut above his rivals; we hope he's singing from the correct hymn-sheet once more.
Pipo De Re (FR) 9-2 (11-9) In touch, left disputing lead 6th, led after 4 out, ridden and headed between last 2, 1 length down and under pressure when fell last, in a race won by Notabotheronme (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Noakarad De Verzee (FR) 13-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, lost place approaching 10th, behind after 14th, hit 2 out, stayed on approaching last, went 4th flat, 4th of 10, 30l behind Buffalo Bob (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Bobby Gee 12-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, lost place 7th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, 4th and no impression 2 out, stayed on strongly to press winner towards finish, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Toulouse Express (10-1) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
Quazy de Joie (FR) 11-2 (11-8) Held up, struggling 4 out, behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Notabotheronme (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Costa Courta (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, blundered 1st, headway 5th, led 13th, headed last, stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Ringaroses (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) sft.
Zanzibar Boy 7-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 8th, hard ridden and challenged after 2 out, kept on well under pressure, won at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan beating Herecomestanley (11-2) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Nagam (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Held up, pushed along 8th, never dangerous, 6th of 16, 35l behind Sona Sasta (10-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Double The Trouble 16-1 (11-12) In touch, took keen hold, blundered 4th, hit 9th, not fluent 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 21l behind Double Mead (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Dec.
Josear 14-1 (10-13) Pressed leader, challenged 2 out, hampered between horses last, switched left and no extra, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Mr Prickle (11-10) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
Jackie Boy (IRE) 7-1 (9-8) Held up mid-divison, pushed along approaching 11th, behind from next, 8th of 11, well behind Mill Side (11-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Sycho Fred (IRE) 7-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, close 4th when fell 3 out, in a race won by Blazing Diva (10-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy, 9 ran.
Free To Air 33-1 (10-11) Held up, pushed along approaching 4th, struggling after 6th, stayed on past beaten horses closing stages, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 28l behind French Leave (10-4) at Exeter 2m 3f cond nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy in Dec.
