tracked leaders, lost place 8th, ridden and soon beaten
tracked leaders until weakened 7th
led, blundered 8th, headed next, soon ridden, weakening when hit 2 out
towards rear, headway from 6th to chase leaders, ridden after 4 out, kept on one pace
mid-division until ridden and weakened 4 out
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, weakened from next
always towards rear, weakened and pulled up before 7th
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance when hit 3 out, kept on and just led last, driven out flat
prominent, led 4 out, ridden next, headed last, one pace flat
behind, headway from 7th to go mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon no impression
mid-division, ridden approaching 4 out, soon one pace
always towards rear
always towards rear, lost touch from 7th, pulled up before last
Backbeat is the obvious selection but Ipay Isay may be the joker in the pack and we'll side with him. Dundock, The Joker and Sea Senor are amongst others to consider. Backbeat was a promising novice chaser for David Elsworth but has endured no end of problems since joining Howard Johnson. He banished those memories with an impressive victory at Sandown and is the latest in a long line of chasers bidding to take advantage of a much lower hurdling mark. This test is a world away from 3 miles over fences at Sandown though and he's worth opposing. Ipay Isay rarely threatened to land a blow when trained by Barney Curley but was well backed and looked set to make a winning start for his new trainer only to fall at the last. He raced off 88 that day so it's somewhat surprising to see him line up off 109 here but he's taken to make amends. Dundock and The Joker may have more to offer and Sea Senor may make the frame but Ipay Isay can call the shots.
Patavium (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 8th, ridden after 3 out, jumped well last and driven out flat, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Dec beating Jack The Blaster (11-12) by 2l, 10 ran.
Vox Populi (USA) 33-1 (11-11) Led, mistake 1st, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, moderate 9th when fell at the last in race won by Dreux (11-11) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs sft in Nov, 18 ran.
Backbeat (IRE) 28-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 11th, ridden clear approaching last, ran on, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Jan beating Eric's Charm (11-10) by 6l, 11 ran.
Ipay Isay (IRE) 4-1 (9-13) Held up, headway after 5 out, 7th before 3 out, 3rd next, close 2nd travelling best when fell 2 out in race won by Billy To Jack (10-5) at Navan 2m hacp hdl gs in Dec, 24 ran.
Stainley (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Led and soon clear, joined approaching 3 out, soon ridden and headed last and no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Along The Nile (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Sea Senor 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon every chance until driven and one pace flat, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Laborec (11-0) at Musselburgh 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs in Dec.
Urowells (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Rear of mid-division, headway to 4th before 3 out, soon 2nd, ridden and no extra before last, kept on, 4th of 16, 2l behind Missrepresenting (9-11) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-109 gf in Jun '06.
Dundock 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, soon ridden to lead 2 out, kept on approaching last, driven clear run-in, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Jan beating Smart Man (10-9) by 7l, 13 ran.
The Joker (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Jumped well, tracked leaders, led approaching 5th, ridden and drew clear from 2 out, won at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan beating Johnny Roche (11-8) by 16l, 7 ran.
Wally Wonder (IRE) 16-1 (9-12) Held up behind, never dangerous, 6th of 10, well behind McGruders Cross (11-7) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Jan.
Bob's Dream (IRE) 3-1fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 13, 30l behind Sculastic (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Dec.
Mr Midaz 22-1 (10-10) Mid-division, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 18, 50l behind Pelo Du Bief (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
Mr Twins (ARG) 12-1 (10-9) Held up, ridden 5th, never dangerous, 6th of 10, well behind Browneyes Blue (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gd in Jul.
