towards rear, some progress approaching 3 out
in touch, led 4 out, ridden 3 out, hung left from 2 out, clear last, idled flat, ran greenly
tracked leader and keen, ridden to lead after 6th, headed 8th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and mistake 7th, weakened after next
in touch, ridden to chase leaders after 4 out, weakened 3 out
mid-division, headway 6th, ridden 7th, one pace from 3 out
in touch, ridden 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
led, headed after 6th and weakened
held up towards rear, steady headway after 6th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
always in rear, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 7th, stayed on to chase leader approaching 3 out, keeping on under strong pressure to chase clear leader last, rallied well and just held
Bumper winners Busy Isit and Flasher could be anything and have to be considered, however Nacadour has the jumping experience and this one gets our vote. David Pipe's charge is having his first race in this country and his first run for 18 months. However he did well in some valuable chases in France and fitness should not be an issue from this stable. Flasher improved on his debut run to land a modest looking contest at Hereford. He is from a top yard and will no doubt know what is required first time over hurdles. The same applies to the Phillip Hobbs trained Busy Isit, who gamely landed a race at Exeter on his debut. Red Man Ray should step up on his debut run and could be best of the others, however the Pipe yard do well with their French recruits and Nacadour gets the verdict in a fascinating race.
Boysterous (IRE) 6-4fav (12-0) Held up; went 2nd 10; led 15-nxt; no ex clsng stages; fin 3rd; promoted, 2nd of 13, 15l behind Fruitfull Citizen (11-7) at Lydstep 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Busy Isit 7-1 (10-11) Always prominent, led 3f out, kept on gamely when challenged from over 1f out, all out, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn nhf (5) gf in May beating That's My Charlie (10-11) by a shd, 9 ran.
Flasher (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Made all, ridden 3 out, challenged approaching final furlong, kept on well, gamely, won at Hereford 2m 1f nhf (6) gf in Nov beating Lord Ashfordly (11-4) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Inch Over 22-1 (11-0) Hung right, jumped slowly 2nd, always behind, tailed off, 8th of 16, well behind Trigger The Light (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
King Cyrus (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden after 3 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 16, 39l behind Amaretto Rose (10-5) at Ascot 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Nacadour (FR) (10-6) Rear early, late headway, 3rd of 9, 6l behind No Full (10-6) at Auteuil 2m 4f chs sft in Jun '05.
Red Man Ray (IRE) 11-1 (10-11) Prominent, every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 13, 21l behind Lodge Lane (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) hvy in Dec.
Sub Artic (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, weakened 3 out, 6th of 11, well behind Supreme Huntress (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Toledo Sun 16-1 (10-12) With leader, led, headed approaching 3 out, outpaced, ridden and every chance 2 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 8, 6l behind Shuhood (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (D) gd in Apr '04.
Wenlocks Wonder 100-1 (11-7) Held up and behind, headway after 3 out, every chance 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 20, 5l behind Kickahead (11-0) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec.
Bellassini 40-1 (10-2) Held up, ridden over 3f out, headway and hung left over 2f out, one pace, 6th of 12, 17l behind Smart Tom (11-0) at Haydock 1m 5f nhf (6) hvy in Dec.
Marvellous Dream (FR) 8-1 (10-12) In touch, ridden to challenge 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 15, 6l behind Saratogane (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Magnum Opus (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 7th of 16, well behind Pevensey (10-9) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
