made most, until blundered and headed 3 out, no extra from next
close up, led 3 out, headed last, one pace under pressure
chased leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out
towards rear, struggling from 7th
held up in touch, blundered badly, lost place 4th, pushed along after 4 out, no impression
jumped right, held up towards rear, headway 8th, went 2nd 2 out, led last, ran on well
Nonrunner
Moscow Dancer hit winning form recently and is taken to defy a seven-pound penalty against Enzo de Baune, Figaro du Rocher and Kids Inheritance. Moscow Dancer missed out the whole of 2004 after breaking down and suffering a viral problem into the bargain, but trainer Peter Monteith has nursed him back to health, and was rewarded by seeing his charge battle his way to victory at Perth six days ago. He has to shoulder a seven-pound penalty today but is still better handicapped than at the start of the season, and might just be good enough to follow up. Enzo de Baune likes to be up with the pace and has run two good races recently including at Sandown the time before last. He will not get much respite from the handicapper though and can be opposed on that score. The five-year-old Figaro du Rocher has kept good company and took part in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival. He would have claims if showing the jumping ability displayed when successful at Warwick in January, while of the rest, Kids Inheritance makes a bit of appeal as he also has some scope. Moscow Dancer did nothing wrong last time though, and now that he appears to be over his problems, can follow up.
Enzo de Baune (FR) 11-4fav (11-4) Led after 3rd, hit 6th, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace last, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Feel The Pride (10-11) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Apr.
Figaro du Rocher (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Chased leader and clear of rest, lost 2nd 10th, mistake and weakened next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Full House (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (C) gd in Apr, 10 ran.
Billie John (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, lost place after 5 out, soon outpaced, 8th of 10, 16l behind Feel The Pride (11-5) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
Kids Inheritance (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Pulled hard, mid-division, headway 7th, mistake 9th, every chance when mistake 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 12, 9l behind Feel The Pride (10-11) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Apr.
Gone Too Far 11-2 (11-6) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, ridden next, stayed on from last, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Moscow Dancer (11-0) at Perth 2m chs (D) gf.
Moscow Dancer (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 7th, led after last, edged right and kept on under pressure flat, won at Perth 2m chs (D) gf beating Noblefir (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ghadames (FR) 100-1 (10-4) Always behind, 15th of 30, well behind Cregg House (10-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gs in Apr.
Bill's Echo 7-2 (11-6) Held up, headway chased to chased leaders after 8, ridden and blundered next, soon weakened, 4th of 5, 35l behind Jefertiti (10-3) at Ayr 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Nov.