tracked leaders, mistake 7th, ridden 10th, weakening when mistake 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
some headway 10th, ridden and weakened approaching 12th
in touch, headway 11th, ridden and slightly outpaced approaching 14th, led 2 out, ridden out
towards rear, headway 10th, led 13th, headed approaching and weakened approaching 3 out
towards rear, held up, steady headway 8th, jumped left 11th, kept on
led, headed 3rd, led again 10th, mistake and headed 13th, soon ridden, led again 3 out, headed and no extra approaching next
held up tracking leaders, pecked landing 9th, ridden when hit 3 out, soon beaten
prominent and keen until lost place soon after 9th, behind from 4 out
in rear until stayed on from 13th, pulled up before last
tracked leaders and keen, ridden 8th, soon lost place and well beaten
held up towards rear, steady headway after 9th, ridden 5 out, weakened next
led 3rd, headed when slipped landing 10th, soon weakened, well behind when pulled up before 4 out
Perhaps not quite as competitive as it first looks, this handicap chase can be taken by Doigts d'Or. The Paul Webber-trained gelding returned from a two-year lay-off at Uttoxeter in November, when he ran well enough despite the stable's relatively poor form at the time. With the yard now going a fair bit better, plus a five week break to recover from those exertions, he could well improve considerably on only his third outing over fences. He seems to jump well and if he handles the step up in trip then he go in at a decent price. Benson is 7lb higher than when winning a handicap chase at Hereford over a similar trip in October. Not disgraced when third off a mark of 102 last time, he has been dropped 2lbs, handles good to soft and has a chance here. Tom George's yard have been going great guns and his Royal Beluga is likely to be a warm order after going up 4lbs for a heavy ground win at Bangor last time. Previously his best form had been on a sound surface, but if he handles the track and the trip here then he should be thereabouts. Superb Leader spent 15 months off the course after a promising bumper debut at Chepstow in November 1999. Trianer Venetia Williams's patience may pay off, because he shaped up well over hurdles at Bangor last time and comes here now for his chasing debut. Sure to have been well schooled, he could also go well, but might just need the experience. Stopwatch put in his best run for some time when second to The Newsman at Fontwell last time. That was his chasing bow, but with a 4lb rise he will need to improve a bit to figure. The veteran Gunner Sid has been a prolific winner at Les Landes (Jersey) over the years, but has also picked up a two mile hurdle here in the past. 12 years old is a little late to be making your chase debut and after not running since April last year, he will surely need this.
