held up in rear, struggling 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear, blundered 4th, ridden 7th, stayed on to chase leaders after 2 out, went 2nd run-in but no chance with winner
chased leaders, challenged from 9th, close up 4 out, no impression from 2 out, lost 2nd run-in
held up in touch, ridden 8th, blundered 9th, effort 4 out, ridden and no impression from next
prominent, challenged from 9th, weakened after 4 out
jumped well, chased leader, made most from 4th, in command 2 out, eased run-in
held up in touch, ridden and blundered 5th, weakened after 8th, blundered 4 out
led to 4th, chased winner until weakened 9th
Nonrunner
From a shortlist containing Duchamp, Figaro du Rocher, Tanikos, Marked Man and Nagano, we will side with Duchamp. The locally-trained selection has been raised six pounds for his Taunton win from Mark Equal last time, which still leaves him just a pound higher than a mark he won from in September 2003. He should go well again at a track where he has run well before. Figaro du Rocher has done well over fences when he gets round, but is now 13 pounds higher than for when he scored at Warwick in January. He can still go well but he is 17 pounds worse off for the four lengths that he beat Nagano at Warwick, although he won comfortably on that occasion. It will be interesting to see how they both fare today. Marked Man is also 12 pounds in the ratings higher than for his Uttoxeter win and has run respectably from his revised mark, although he would probably not want too much juice in the ground. Of the others, Tamango is just two pounds above a winning mark, but he has a big absence to overcome, and Tanikos, much as he has been disappointing on his last five outings, looked promising a year ago and he could be well handicapped if he puts it all together. Overall, though, we return to the selection, which is Duchamp.
Solarius (FR) 33-1 Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Whereareyounow at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs (B) sft in Feb, 14 ran.
Marked Man (IRE) 16-1 Always towards rear, 8th of 15, 48l behind Le Duc at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gd in Jan.
Duchamp (USA) Evensfav Led after 1st, headed 4th, led again 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on, ridden out, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Feb beating Mark Equal by 1l, 8 ran.
Indien Royal (FR) 7-2 Held up rear, mistake 3rd, headway 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 6, 20l behind Mondul at Fontwell 2m 2f nov chs (B) gs in Feb.
Tamango (FR) 11-4 Tracked leader, led 2nd, blundered 3rd, headed 4th, tracked leader to 6th, mistake 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 9l behind Hot Shots at Ascot 2m lst hcp chs (A) gf in Nov '03.
Tanikos (FR) 7-1 Led to 4 out, ridden and no extra from 3 out, 5th of 8, 18l behind Master Rex at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec.
Nagano (FR) 2-1 Chased leaders, headway to track winner 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Figaro du Rocher at Warwick 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Jan.
Newick Park 11-1 Chase leader to 8th, struggling 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, 3rd of 5, 6l behind The Leader at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs in Jan.
Figaro du Rocher (FR) 3-1fav Sett strong pace, headed 5th, led again 7th, joined 3 out, ridden and close up when blundered badly 2 out, not recover, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind L'Ange Au Ciel at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) gs in Feb.
