prominent, ridden 4 out, left in lead last, all out
jumped left, led 2nd, ridden when blundered 2 out, hung left and 3 lengths clear when fell last
led to 2nd, prominent, ridden after 12th, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, hampered 7th, tailed off 4 out
mid-division, headway 13th, outpaced 4 out, kept on flat
keen, in touch, close 4th when fell 7th
behind, mistake 1st, went left and fell 5th
behind, headway 12th, mistake 13th, weakened next
This is an open novices chase in which the tentative vote goes to Just A Splash ahead of Broken Reed and Nagam. Nick Gifford suffered a high profile defeat with Straw Bear on Boxing Day, however his horses have been running okay and whilst Just A Splash is certainly no world-beater, this looks a fairly moderate contest. Broken Reed ran in the same race as the selection last time out at Huntingdon and whilst he too looks moderate, he is at least unexposed after just two runs over fences and could easily step up on those efforts. However Tom George's stable is below par at the moment so for that reason he is passed over. Nagam belied his huge odds when a plugging on third to Snakebite recently, and should be suited by this more galloping track. He must rate a danger, as must Ca Na Trona although he must bounce back from a dire run at Fakenham. This isn't a race to get heavily involved in, and so for small stakes the selection is Just A Splash.
Broken Reed (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Close up, joined winner 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 17, 18l behind Ferimon (11-2) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Ca Na Trona (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Held up, ridden and weakened 10th, behind when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Frosty Jak (11-6) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (4) gs, 6 ran.
Just A Splash (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden 4 out, kept on to take remote 3rd flat, 3rd of 17, 18l behind Ferimon (11-2) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Mythical Son (IRE) 125-1 (10-12) Hit 6th, always behind, 9th of 18, well behind Ordre de Bataille (10-12) at Warwick 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Nagam (FR) 80-1 (10-11) Towards rear, closer order 10th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 12, 14l behind Snakebite (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f nov chs (4) sft.
Nautic (FR) 33-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, losing place when mistake 7th, jumped left after, weakened 9th, 7th of 9, well behind Charlton Kings (11-8) at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gd.
Secured (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up, hit 1st, some headway 7th, mistake 8th, 4th and no chance when blundered 4 out, 5th of 6, well behind Bob Hall (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd.
Earcomesannie (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Behind, mistake 12th, headway after 13th, every chance when fell 3 out in race won by Charming Fellow (11-10) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
