led until ridden and headed 5th, weakened quickly and pulled up before next
prominent until lost place 4th, soon struggling in rear, tailed off
prominent, hit 2nd and next, weakened quickly 3 out, tailed off
held up, in rear, headway approaching 2 out, kept on into 4th flat
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, 6th and weakening when hit last
chased leaders until weakened well before 2 out
held up and always going well, smooth headway 3 out, led on bit approaching 2 out, ridden clear flat
raced wide, jumped slowly 4th, chased leaders until weakened 3 out
behind, steady headway from 3 out, chased leaders from next, not quicken flat
chased leaders, led briefly after 3 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, led on inside 5th, headed after 3 out, weakened after next
held up, towards rear, headway to chase leaders 3 out, no extra from next
always behind, tailed off
always behind, tailed off
held up, towards rear, headway 5th, disputing lead well before 2 out, chasing winner and ridden 2 out, held before last
never reached beyond mid-division, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A big field for the opener and plenty of competition as a result. Acknowledgement impressed last time and should still go very close here, but preference is for SINGAPORE REEF, while Lepido, Heezazari and Stratford Stroller all catch the eye. The last-named has won two of his last four starts, both under the tutelage of Tony McCoy, who is not up top today. Soft ground and trips from two miles to 2m 4f suit, and it is probably best to forgive him a moderate effort at Bangor last time, as he was hampered en route. He looks very competitive. Lepido appears to handle any ground and is 1lb better off with Stratford Stroller for a three-parts-of-a-length beating at Lingfield in November, so there should be little to choose between them. Heezazari is very interesting, especially if fit first time back after an absence going on for two years. He was the comfortable winner of a Bangor maiden hurdle when last seen, and connections have understandably persevered. We need to check the market for clues about a gelding who has to prove himself. Acknowledgement was a well-backed 17-length winner at Bangor in December and the handicapper has reacted with a 22lb rise in the weights. In spite of that, he still has a reasonable racing weight for this return to the track and should be challenging at the business end. Joshua has little on his back and should appreciate the return to the minimum trip, while Arctic Ben is very much going the right way and handles some cut, so he can get involved. Preference, however, is for Singapore Reef. Nick Williams rarely takes his runners to the track without some sort of chance, and this four-year-old has conditions and trip to suit, and won a maiden hurdle at Taunton in November. The form of the race has not worked out badly, and he is clearly open to improvement, while the fact that his trainer has not rushed him back to the racecourse is viewed in a positive light. He gets our vote in the opener.
Solent (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Raced keenly, led after 1st, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 9, 11l behind I Have Dreamed (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Feb '09.
Itea Du Fau (FR) 9-4fav (11-10) Held up in 5th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden, no response and weakened next, eased, tailed off and pulled up before last, in a race won by Lindy Lou (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Nov, 7 ran.
Heezazari (IRE) 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, led after 2 out, clear approaching last, won at Bangor 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in May '08 beating Empty Sky (10-5) by 7l, 12 ran.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway approaching 3 out, switched left and blundered last, edged right flat, one pace, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Three Ships (10-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Kauto The Roc (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway before 2 out, kept on, no impression, 4th of 14, 13l behind Tocca Ferro (11-4) at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Stratford Stroller (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) In rear, ridden after 3 out, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 29l behind Iconoclast (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Qaspal (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 15, 21l behind Rollwiththepunches (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) sft in Jan.
Princess Flame (GER) 28-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 9th of 15, 31l behind Classic Dream (10-11) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Dean's Grange 66-1 (10-12) Mid-division, pushed along and weakened after 3 out, 8th of 14, 14l behind Tito Bustillo (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Dec.
Lady Jinks 33-1 (10-10) Took keen hold in touch until ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 12, 38l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-4) at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Lepido (ITY) 11-1 (10-1) Took keen hold, chased leaders, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace from last, 3rd of 12, 3l behind Get Me Out Of Here (11-4) at Newbury 2m con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Singapore Reef (FR) 11-4fav (10-12) With leader, led 2nd, ridden approaching and hit last, held on well, won at Taunton 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov beating Googoobarabajagal (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Beat The Rap (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) Held up, outpaced approaching 3 out, 6th of 13, 24l behind Dream Esteem (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Just Beware 11-2 (10-9) Soon disputing 2nd place, led briefly 3 out, pushed along when weakened approaching next, 4th of 6, 26l behind Double Dash (11-9) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Apache Chant (USA) 33-1 (11-1) Towards rear, ridden going to 3 out, headway next, one pace, 4th of 20, 16l behind Shadrack (10-6) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Jan.
Joshua 11-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, ridden after 6th, headway approaching 2 out, soon no impression, left modest 4th last, 4th of 12, 15l behind Tiger Moss (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Sep.
Dalaram (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, pulled up and dismounted before 4 out, in a race won by Minnie Hill (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
Acknowledgement 7-2 (10-0) Held up mid-division, led approaching 2 out, clear approaching last, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Heredias (10-10) by 17l, 13 ran.
