towards rear, headway 7th, weakened after 3 out
mid-division, pushed along 7th, weakened next, behind when blundered 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
keen, not fluent, chased leaders, hit 6th, left 2nd 4 out, every chance last, hung right flat, stayed on to lead close home
led, ridden approaching last, edged right flat, hung left and headed close home
mid-division, jumped big and ridder lost irons 2nd, lost place 5th, tailed off when mistake 3 out, soon pulled up
held up, slightly hampered 4th, headway 5th, left 3rd 4 out, weakened after next
chased leader, every chance when fell 9th
keen, chased leaders, fell 4th
mid-division until weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
Pole Star is a most exciting individual and can get his career over fences off to the best possible start, with Phar Out Phavorite and Cossack Dancer a couple to give him something to think about. Pole Star certainly paid his way over hurdles last season, winning two of his six starts. He was a creditable fourth in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at Cheltenham before again finishing fourth, this time off a mark of 144 at Aintree. By all accounts he has worked like a dream in schooling at James Fanshawe's stable, and with Tony McCoy in the plate again, he can make a winning start to his chase career. Phar Out Phavorite was not in the same league as the selection over timber, but shaped well on his chase bow when third to Cornish Sett. The runner-up Green Tango won at the weekend, so that form has to be respected. Cossack Dancer has tried to make the running on his two outings over fences so far, including here a month ago, and a little more restraint can see him take a hand in proceedings, while the market will reveal if anything else is fancied. Pole Star was a cut above this lot over hurdles and can make his class tell.
Ballyrainey (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until 7th, soon tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Kaldouas (11-0) at Windsor 2m 4f nh mdn hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Beaufort County (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Held up rear, headway 5 out, weakened next, no chance when jumped right 2 out, 4th of 8, well behind Le Volfoni (10-7) at Chepstow 2m beg chs (D) hvy in Dec.
Butsadtohavetogo (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Not fluent, soon well in rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Voy Por Ustedes (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 1f nov chs (C) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Calatagan (IRE) 15-2 (10-13) Held up, headway 3 out, ridden and effort next, weakened approaching last, 7th of 12, 13l behind Desert Quest (10-3) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Dec.
Cossack Dancer (IRE) 3-1 (11-3) Led, mistake 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, stumbled and headed 3 out, mistake last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Hors La Loi III (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f nov chs (C) gd in Dec.
Konker 100-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened 8th pulled up at the 7th in race won by Villon (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m beg chs (E) hvy in Dec, 10 ran.
Meehan (IRE) 66-1 (11-12) Prominent, weakened 5th and pulled up 2 out in race won by Pure Mischief (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (E) sft in Dec '04, 16 ran.
Phar Out Phavorite (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 4 out, driven last, kept on, 3rd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Cornish Sett (11-5) at Newbury 2m 1f beg chs (D) gd in Nov.
Pole Star 5-2 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 3rd, headway after 8th, one pace from 3 out, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 17l behind Turpin Green (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gs in Apr.
Ellie Moss 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Harringay (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f mrs nov hdl (D) gd in Dec, 13 ran.
