led, headed approaching 3 out, tracked winner after, ridden and every chance from 2 out, kept on one pace under pressure flat
held up, headway from 11th, went 3rd 4 out, ridden next, kept on under strong pressure to take 2nd towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden 11th, soon weakened, pulled up 5 out
in touch, ridden and weakened after 4 out
tracked leader, rider lost iron briefly 5th, led approaching 3 out, soon ridden, driven and all out flat
held up in touch, reminders halfway, weakened 13th, behind and pulled up 3 out
in rear, blundered 9th, mistake 10th, ridden and weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up approaching last
ME JULIE may have escaped lightly and is taken to follow up at the main expense of Gunship and Mayeul. The selection only has 5lbs more to shoulder than when winning readily at Ffos Las from a fair yardstick. That was just the sixth start of her career and her first over fences so it's reasonable to assume that she's open to a fair amount of improvement and the jockey booking is a positive. Gunship was nibbled at in the market prior to his run at Taunton but he got no further than the second having dislodged the blinkers with a bad mistake at the first. He's on a decent mark and is at home under these conditions and can go well. The Hardy Boy may find that this trip stretches him whilst Sailor's Sovereign steps into new territory in terms of stamina so of more interest are Mayeul and Great Tsar. The latter hasn't had many chances for this yard but is another with his stamina to prove unlike Mayeul who has no worries on that score. The Pipe runner shaped with a little more promise at Wincanton but is still a maiden under both codes so he's overlooked in favour of Me Julie.
Me Julie 7-1 (9-12) Mostly jumped soundly, made all, stayed on strongly from 3 out, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f Mares Handicap Chase (0-115) (4yo+) (4) sft in Nov beating Rosie All Over (11-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Mayeul (FR) 14-1 (10-11) In rear, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on towards finish, never a factor, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Carrickmines (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f cond hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
The Hardy Boy 14-1 (10-13) Prominent in chasing group, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 10, 18l behind Like A Duke (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov.
Great Tsar (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 6th, ridden after 8th, not fluent 3 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 4th of 11, 6l behind Devils River (11-1) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Nov.
Gunship (IRE) 6-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, blundered 1st, blundered 2nd and unseated rider, in a race won by Sir Winston (10-13) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Kahyasi Jack (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Fell 1st, in a race won by Sanpor (10-10) at Hereford 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft, 10 ran.
Sailor's Sovereign 14-1 (10-2) Held up, outpaced 4 out, stayed on approaching last, went 4th flat, never dangerous, 4th of 9, 14l behind Mr Ironman (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov.
