tracked leader, led 4 out, hit next, clear approaching last
held up, headway to go prominent 7th, chased winner 3 out until weakened after last
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place from 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up, effort after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, led 9th, headed 4 out, soon outpaced, kept on to chase winner after last, no impression
held up, hit 3rd, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 5th
led to 9th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
Esprit Saint, Inaro and Over The Blues are three against the field in a tough race to call for punters and the narrow vote is given to Esprit Saint. The selection won well in his Native France when last seen, hails from a yard in top form and off what looks a fair mark and under conditions that suit he looks the one to be on. Inaro rates the main danger on his best form but he looks weighted uop to his best and may just need the run after a 227 day absence. Over The Blues is another that could go well but he looks the stables second string on jockey bookings and he pulled up last time out so he can not be put forward with any confidence. Stan looks handily weighted on his best form but his stables runners have tended to need their first runs this season and he is taken on with this in mind. Iron Man is from a yard in good form but looks in the handicapers grip and with this in mind for the winner we return to Esprit Saint who is taken to win this before going on to better things.
Iron Man (FR) 4-1jt-fav (11-11) Mistake 12th, always behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Moustique de L'Isle (10-3) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct, 10 ran.
Stan (NZ) 25-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 10th, ridden after 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Iris's Gift (11-10) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (C) gs in Oct '05.
Hunting Yuppie (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Led 2nd to 6th, led after 8th to 10th, chance 3 out, 3rd and beaten when fell 3 out in race won by Millenaire (12-0) at Leicester 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft in Feb, 6 ran.
Esprit Saint (FR) (10-3) Prominent, led 2 out, ran on well, won at Pau 2m 1f hdl in Feb beating French Saulaie (10-3) by 4l, 15 ran.
Inaro (IRE) 4-1co-fav (11-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, kept on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 10l behind Gods Token (11-9) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Feb.
Classic Capers 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, hit 4th, lost place next, weakened 3 out, 6th of 8, 8l behind Big Rob (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf.
Over The Blues (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) In rear, headway when mistake 10th, weakened after 14th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Mr Dow Jones (10-4) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Oct, 11 ran.
King's Bounty 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 9th, weakened from 12th, soon beaten, 7th of 8, 46l behind Alexanderthegreat (11-0) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
