blundered and unseated rider 1st
chased winner, not fluent 2nd, mistakes 10th and 11th, lost 2nd and weakened approaching 3 out
chased leaders, 5th when fell 12th
mid-division, mistake 3rd, jumped poorly after, dropped rear 7th, well behind when pulled up before 12th
made all, jumped right, not fluent 10th, drew well clear approaching 3 out, unchallenged
held up towards rear, hampered 1st, hit 8th, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous
soon in mid-division, mistake 4th, headway when mistake 10th, ridden after next, went 2nd approaching 3 out, no chance with winner, lost 2nd flat
held up in rear, losing touch when mistake 11th, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up towards rear, headway 8th, lost place approaching 10th, hit 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
chased leaders, raced keenly, weakened 4 out
This Novice Handicap Chase looks wide open where a case can be made for all 10 runners but we'll take our chance with fencing debutant SPANISH CRUISE, who hails from a yard in form ahead of She's Humble and Sydney Sling. Not seen since finding the ground against him in April the pick beat a subsequent winner when proving a liking for this trip the previous month. The gelding looks the sort to become a successful chaser and with the yard firing at present he looks the marginal call. She's Humble is yet to get off the mark but did shape very nicely when runner up on her third chase start last time. Her fitness is taken on trust but if building on that last run she looks a leading contender. Sydney Sling hasn't shown the best chase form since switching from timber but now looks well treated on these terms so could well run a big race and Ouragan Lagrange has to be considered after a good run in defeat on his latest effort. A tough race to judge but a race that should just go the way of Spanish Cruise.
Ouragan Lagrange (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up in close 5th, went 3rd and hit 4 out, ridden before 2 out, went 2nd last, hung left and one pace flat, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Five Dream (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chase (4) gd in May.
Prince Des Marais (FR) 11-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden and lost place 4 out, behind when pulled up before next, in a race won by Best Of The Lot (11-7) at Southwell 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May, 11 ran.
Dawn Silk (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden and weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 11l behind The Apprentice (10-9) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec '07.
Scaramouche 5-2 (11-12) Held up last, mistake 6th, ridden 13th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by I'moncloudnine (11-12) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar, 6 ran.
Midnight Haze 9-1 (11-2) Jumped right, always well in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Mr Fluffy (10-3) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May, 14 ran.
Senor Shane (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, outpaced approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 9, 24l behind Kisha King (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Spanish Cruise (IRE) 2-1fav (10-4) Held up, jumped left, dropped rear and not going well after 5th, no impression after, went moderate 4th before last, 4th of 8, 15l behind Mollys Garden (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Apr.
Ballygowan Star (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, slipped bend after 5th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Cobbler's Queen (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May, 10 ran.
Sydney Sling (IRE) 7-1 (9-13) Not fluent, took good hold in mid-division, pecked 7th, headway 12th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 8, 12l behind Winsley Hill (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Oct.
She's Humble (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, pushed along after 8th, close to track winner on inner before 2 out, ridden soon after and no impression, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Sumdancer (11-5) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
