took keen hold in rear, not fluent 2nd, hampered 9th, mistake 10th, well beaten 4 out, pulled up after 2 out
mid-division, hampered 9th, headway 11th, weakened approaching last
prominent, hit 3rd, disputing lead when fell 9th
made most to 8th, led 11th to 4 out, weakened next
held up towards rear, bumped 2nd, badly hampered 9th, headway 3 out, 4th and closing last, stayed on well to lead close home
mid-division, pushed along 5th, headway 7th, challenged 11th, led 4 out, headed last, stayed on
mid-division, ridden 8th, never dangerous
chased leaders, hampered 9th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, challenging when left in lead 9th, headed 11th, led last, headed close home
mid-division until blundered and unseated rider 8th
mistake 3rd, always behind, tailed off 10th, soon pulled up
held up in rear, ridden after 7th, headway next, no extra towards finish
with leader, led 8th until blundered and unseated rider next
The 12-year-old Jacarado has won his last two starts (both at Towcester) but a 5lb rise for the latest of them, a half-length defeat of Ammunition, looks harsh and a better bet looks to be RINCE DOWN, who can give weight away all round with the main danger rated as PonchaTrain. Martin Keighley's gelding looked beaten before unseating his rider at Fontwell last time but had earlier battled on well to win at Folkestone and he has to be considered. Caroline Bailey's Donald Will Do has found one too good in each of his last two outings and should be thereabouts again but seems just a shade high in the weights, while point-to-point winner Just Playfull has yet to show a similar level of form under rules. The Venetia Williams-trained Cartier Opera disappointed behind The Snail at Ludlow last month but has claims on earlier form, although more solid claims are held by Rince Donn. The eight-year-old was good value for his win at Folkestone last week and he can defy the penalty for that success.
Rince Donn (IRE) 9-4 (10-11) Chased leaders, led 3 out, driven after next, stayed on strongly, won at Folkestone 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) sft beating Black Ven (11-9) by 5l, 6 ran.
Bobby Bullock (IRE) 40-1 (9-13) Hit 1st, held up, headway 7th, chase leaders 13th, blundered next, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 10, 49l behind Far More Serious (11-4) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (4yo+) (3) gs in Dec.
Aboukir Bay (IRE) 20-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, badly hampered 2nd, headway after 8th, weakened 10th, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Afistfullofpebbles (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Jacarado (IRE) 9-4fav (10-3) Chased leaders, led approaching 9th, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on gamely, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct beating Ammunition (11-12) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
PonchaTrain (IRE) 7-4fav (11-8) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, slow 12th, soon ridden, headway when unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Ere Alfie (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Gift Of The Gods (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Chased leader to 3rd, remained handy, weakened approaching 9th, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Afistfullofpebbles (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Furze Hill (IRE) 7-1 (11-6) In rear, soon pushed along, never in contention, 8th of 10, 23l behind Ballymorn (11-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
Cartier Opera 7-1 (10-6) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 9th, weakening when blundered 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by The Snail (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Donald Will Do (IRE) 13-2 (10-9) Led, headed 13th, pushed along approaching15th, kept on to take 2nd flat no chance with the winner, 2nd of 8, 22l behind Lord Appellare (11-6) at Huntingdon 3m hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Dec.
Space Cowboy (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, rallied approaching 2 out, soon no impression, 4th of 11, 27l behind Desperate Dex (10-0) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Jacksons Pier (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 7th of 12, 32l behind Dawn Ride (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Feb '08.
Just Playfull 17-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, soon one pace, 4th of 13, 17l behind Ere Alfie (10-5) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Dec.
Luce Bay 28-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway and in touch 10th, lost place 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Rapid Increase (11-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
