raced wide, led 2nd, joined 2 out, soon headed, no chance with very easy winner but clear 2nd
chased leaders until weakened 3 out
led to 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden and weakened after 3 out
jumped poorly, always in rear
took keen hold in touch, weakened under pressure approaching 2 out
pulled hard in mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased leaders next, one pace between last 2
held up in rear, some headway after 3 out, never reached leaders
hit 1st, mid-division to rear, struggling 3 out, tailed off
raced on inside, chased leaders, effort 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
mistake 3rd, towards rear, headway after 3 out, chased winner between last 2, no impression when hit last
held up in rear, smooth headway on bit after 3 out, upsides 2 out, soon led, forged clear, very easily
chased leaders, hit 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
Bureaucrat and French Opera need respect but each have top-weight to lump around and so marginal preference is for the improving Ouzbeck ahead of Sendani, Fredensborg and Palomar. The selection steps up in class here as he enters handicaps off a mark of 122 but the way that he has taken to hurdles suggests that there could be plenty of improvement left to come. The stable continue in good form and assuming that the ground stays on the good side of soft then a big run can be expected at fair odds. French Opera is very consistent and has been given a break since beaten by Deep Purple, who has won again since. His form looks very solid and he shouldn't be far away. Stablemate Lester Leaps In has claims but might just lack the class. Sendani is not the most straightforward but his time will come, whilst Buster Hyvonen drops in grade. Palomar has been hit fairly hard by the handicapper for his facile wins but is on the upgrade, so whilst Bureaucrat is holding his form well and should again be on the premises, it is Ouzbeck who receives the vote.
French Opera 5-4fav (11-6) Chased winner, led narrowly 4th, joined 2 out, soon driven, headed before last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Deep Purple (11-8) at Kempton 2m lst nov hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Bureaucrat 6-1 (11-11) In touch, went 2nd when jumped left 2 out, led and jumped left last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Nov beating Kickahead (10-13) by 2l, 8 ran.
Priors Dale 25-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 4 out, 10th of 15, 44l behind Bambi De L'orme (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Lindop 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden and headway 2 out, weakened approaching last, 8th of 11, 14l behind Jack The Giant (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Buster Hyvonen (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next, 13th of 22, 27l behind Kings Quay (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Ouzbeck (FR) 4-7fav (11-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden to lead 2 out, headed towards finish, 2nd of 18, 1/2l behind Prince Taime (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Fredensborg (NZ) 9-4fav (11-0) In touch, led approaching 2 out, ridden and narrowly headed when left in lead last, pushed out, won at Wincanton 2m mdn hdl (4) sft in Jan beating Habanero (11-0) by 4l, 18 ran.
Lester Leaps In (USA) 10-3 (11-5) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakening when jumped left last, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Mon Michel (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f 4yo nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Wheelavit (IRE) 66-1 (10-9) Held up, steady progress 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on flat, 4th of 11, 9l behind Jack The Giant (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Stoop To Conquer 7-2 (11-3) Chased winner throughout, hit 4th, driven and no chance after 2 out, clear 2nd, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Ring The Boss (11-3) at Newbury 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Garrulous (UAE) 5-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 6th, led approaching 2 out, soon clear, readily, won at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Nov beating Australia Day (11-0) by 9l, 13 ran.
Palomar (USA) 4-6fav (9-10) Raced keenly, held up and not fluent in rear, headway 4 out, led last, driven out, won at Kelso 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov beating Seeyaaj (10-4) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Forever Dream 14-1 (11-1) Chased leader, led 5th, ridden, headed last, weakened flat, 6th of 11, 7l behind Moon Catcher (11-1) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Jun '06.
Sendani (FR) 8-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 4th, joined leaders 3 out, ridden and every chance after 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 5th of 20, 8l behind Kia Kaha (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
