held up in touch, in 3rd and held when blundered last
made all, pulled hard and soon clear, hit last 2, ridden out
always towards rear
always behind
chased winner, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching next
mid-division, weakened after 4th
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, stayed on flat, not reach winner
held up, reminders 4th, weakened from 3 out
held up, weakened from 5th
Pop, Apollo Creed and Border Fox are the three that make the shortlist here with Pop the selection. Apollo Creed ran respectably in three outings to date, and it is possible that the soft ground may help him as he appears a little one paced. He should be thereabouts. Border Fox won his Musselburgh bumper in good style, but made mistakes when well beaten on his hurdling bow in a good Aintree contest. He needs to improve on that but clearly has ability. Having run well in a couple of bumpers, Pop shaped with great promise on his hurdling bow at Warwick, finishing third beaten only four lengths in what looked a decent contest. He has the stand out form in the race, and given normal improvement, Pop can ensure his supporters can afford something stronger to celebrate with.
Apollo Creed (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Mid-division, blundered 1st, mistake 4th, headway 7th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 18, 24l behind Rood Report (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Border Fox 40-1 (11-8) Not jump well, pulled hard, held up in rear, headway 5th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off, 16th of 18, well behind Sir Monty (11-5) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Ding Dang Do 25-1 (11-1) Mid-division, ridden 5f out, never on terms, 8th of 14, 21l behind Charlie Crab (10-11) at Newcastle 2m mdn nhf (6) gf in Nov.
Freddie Ed 16-1 (11-0) With leaderm ridden after 5th, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Temple Place (10-11) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gs in Mar '06, 14 ran.
Great Grimsby (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) In rear, some headway 4 out, never on terms, 7th of 15, 29l behind Hills Of Aran (11-5) at Carlisle 3m 1f nov hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Lifes A Mystery (IRE) Luso gelding, half-brother to winning bumper Florida Belle.
No Telling (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Keen, held up mid-division, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 11, 39l behind The Cayterers (10-9) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Pop (FR) 22-1 (10-12) In touch, headway 3 out, every chance 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 18, 4l behind Prince Taime (10-12) at Warwick 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Punjabi Army 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4f out, 14th of 16, 35l behind The Apprentice (10-13) at Chepstow 2m nhf (6) gd in Nov.
The Masters Lesson 40-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, weakened over 4f out, 11th of 18, 24l behind Noble Alan (11-2) at Newcastle 2m mdn nhf (6) gf in Nov.