in touch, outpaced 4 out, ridden and headway next, stayed on to lead after last, headed and no extra final 100 yards
tracked leaders, led halfway, headed before 3 out, soon ridden, kept on until weakened flat
in touch when stumbled, unseated rider 6th
soon behind, lost touch halfway, 15 lengths 4th 3 out, stayed on well from next, ridden and every chance flat, just failed
led, reminders and headed halfway, lost place 10th, soon struggling, 20 lengths 5th 3 out, stayed on strongly from next, led final 100 yards, just held on
in touch, mistake 2nd, fell next
held up, headway to join leader 10th, led before 3 out, hit last, soon headed and weakened
behind when mistake, unseated rider 2nd
OUZBECK bids for his fifth consecutive victory here and can gain it; the biggest threats appearing to be Nikola and My Turn Now. Alan King's charge has picked up valuable experience in very weak races over the last number of months but the skills he picks up are sure to stand him in good sted as the better quality novices come out and he should prove a cut above the rest here. The former smart novice hurdler My Turn Now beat a weak field to win his beginners' chase. Left off following that, he returns here after 112 days off. He has the size and scope to make a chaser but it is doubtful whether he will be sharp enough to cope with the race fit Ouzbeck. Nikola and Commemoration Day have ample experience but are exposed while St Mellion Freeway landed a minor gamble when winning last time out, albeit on much different ground conditions. Ouzbeck is given the nod to continue his winning sequence.
Commemoration Day (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Towards rear, ridden and mistake 10th, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Snoopy Loopy (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Aug, 13 ran.
Nikola (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Chased leader 2nd until approaching 6th, jumped slowly next, 2nd again 11th until before 13th, weakened 4 out, last of 5, 49l behind Quarry Town (10-12) at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (3) gd in Jun.
Ouzbeck (FR) 4-7fav (11-10) Tracked leader, led 7th, stayed on strongly from last, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Jul beating Chrysander (11-10) by 32l, 5 ran.
Lorum Leader (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, dropped to rear at 9th, soon lost touch, no danger when left 3rd 4 out where bad mistake and almost unseated rider, 3rd of 4, well behind Callow Lake (11-12) at Listowel 2m 4f chs frm in Jun.
My Turn Now (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, led 6th, clear from 14th, kept on well, won at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd in Jun beating Valiant Shadow (11-0) by 13l, 9 ran.
St Mellion Freeway (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) With leader, led 6th, in command from 2 out, clear last, pushed out, won at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (3) sft beating Rookery Rebel (11-2) by 6l, 10 ran.
Bougoure (IRE) 11-2 (10-1) In touch, weakened 4 out, 7th of 10, 41l behind Private Be (10-10) at Aintree 2m 4f amt nov hcp chs (2) gd in Apr '07.
Moon Melody (GER) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, reminders after 3rd, one pace from 2 out, 6th of 13, 11l behind Mucho Loco (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
