held up in rear, headway 7th, led 2 out, ridden out
tracked leaders, mistake 7th, led 10th, ridden and headed 2 out, 2nd and 2 lengths down when blundered last, weakened flat
led to 2nd, led again 6th to after 8th, ridden next, weakening when fell 11th
led 2nd to 6th, led again after 8th to 10th, ridden and every chance 3 out, soon hung left, 3rd and beaten when fell 2 out
held up, headway 4th, weakened 7th, behind when fell 10th
behind from 4th, left tailed off 3rd
This appears to be a three horse race with Millenaire, Reflected Glory and Hunting Yuppie expected to fight out the finish, we will just give the vote to Millenaire. Jonjo O'Neil's gelding put up a very dismal display of jumping last time and eventually fell at the eleventh in the race won by Briery Fox. This followed two impressive wins here and at Folkestone and if that last run was just a blip he will take all the beating this afternoon. Hunting Yuppie is returning from a long lay off, but looked a classy type when last seen, finishing second behind Martin Pipe's Comply Or Die. If the money comes for this one take note. Reflected Glory has taken on top opposition since winning at Exeter in December. This is more his level and he should be there or thereabouts. The other three runners make little appeal and in what could be a very tactical affair Millenaire is just given the nod.
Millenaire (FR) 15-8fav (11-10) Held up, jumped slow, in rear when fell at the 11th in race won by Briery Fox (11-0) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (C) gd in Dec, 5 ran.
Reflected Glory (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led, hit 12th, headed 14th, left in lead after next, ridden after 3 out, hit 2 out, soon headed and weakened, 4th of 7, 19l behind Halcon Genelardais (11-12) at Exeter 3m 1f nov chs (3) sft.
Ashleybank House (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Desert Tommy (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft, 18 ran.
Hunting Yuppie (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Chased winner to 4 out, ridden to go 2nd again 2 out, hung left approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Comply Or Die (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (D) gd in Oct '04.
Kim Buck (FR) 33-1 (11-6) Always behind, hampered 4th, hung left after 7th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Winsley (11-6) at Towcester 2m beg chs (D) gf in Oct, 8 ran.
Murphy's Magic (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 3 out, jumped left 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Joseph Beuys (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Jan.
