mid-division, ridden and blundered on landing 10th, behind when brought down 12th,
keen, led, headed 4th, led again 11th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakening when mistake last
keen, held up in touch, ridden to lead 2 out, headed next, one pace
close up, when mistake and unseated rider 3rd
held up towards rear, headway 11th, chased leaders next, ridden 3 out, one pace approaching last
headway to go prominent 3rd, led 5th, headed 11th, ridden to lead again 3 out, headed next, led again last, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out
pulled hard, tracked leader, led 4th, headed next, ridden and weakened 11th, fell next
always in rear, behind when hampered 3 out
Down's Folly is fancied to take the beating in the opener at Leicester, with the main threats being posed by Sheriff Roscoe and Silver Serg. The last named has reportedly schooled well over fences and can be expected to make a bold bid. The six-year-old has been in fair form over timber of late and, as a hold-up horse, his rider, Daryl Jacobs, can play a patient game today. The gelding is one to keep tabs on whatever happens here. Sheriff Roscoe met a couple of potentially useful types on his chasing debut last month, so it would be harsh to judge him on that effort alone. His hurdles form entitles him to respect at this level and, with the experience under his belt, he can give a good account of himself. However, Down's Folly was easily the best of these over timber and, with his close up second behind Forty Acers setting the standard for the time being, the Henry Daly-trained gelding is taken as the most logical route to riches in this company.
Beesneez (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Jmpd poor; some prog 4 out; wknd nxt, 4th of 11, 31l behind Tanmeya (11-7) at Maisemore Park 2m 6f ptp gd in Apr.
Curradoon (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Not fluent 8th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Back On Line (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 11 ran.
Down's Folly (IRE) 5-4jt-fav (11-6) In touch, led 3 out, headed last, hung left and no extra flat, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Fourty Acers (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov '06.
Knock Boy (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Mount Oscar (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov, 18 ran.
Leopold (SLO) 16-1 (10-9) Held up last, ridden 16th, lost touch 4 out, 4th of 6, well behind He's The Biz (10-11) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Aug '06.
Sheriff Roscoe 16-1 (11-1) Held up, effort 11th, tailed off before 3 out, 3rd of 6, well behind Hobbs Hill (11-7) at Folkestone 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Nov.
Silver Serg 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 7th, weakened 3 out, last of 5, 23l behind Quarrymount (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Silver Twist 25-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, jumped left 7th, weakened 9th, hit 10th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Keepthedreamalive (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs (3) gs, 6 ran.
Spear Thistle 20-1 (11-6) Not fluent 1st, mid-division, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 18, 19l behind Special Envoy (11-6) at Newbury 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Alpha Juliet (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 7th, ridden and no extra 2 out, 4th of 14, 6l behind Alfadora (11-1) at Plumpton 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Nov.
