tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed next, outpaced 9th, lost touch after 12th, no chance when hampered by loose horse and unseated rider 2 out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, not fluent 12th, weakened 3 out, left 3rd 2 out
led into start, soon led, headed after 1st, tracked leaders, challenged 8th, led 10th, 1 1/2 lenghts ahead and still not ridden when fell 2 out
in rear, not fluent, mistake and lost touch 8th, pulled up before 10th
headway to lead 4th, headed 8th, not fluent next, weakened after 4 out
in touch towards rear, jumped slowly 7th, went 3rd approaching 4 out, went 2nd when jumped right next, 1 1/2 lenghts down when left in lead 2 out, jumped right last, headed towards finish
led after 1st, headed 3rd, led 8th until 10th, not fluent and slightly outpaced 3 out, left 2nd next, closed last, stayed on under pressure to lead towards finish
TWIST MAGIC is attempting this trip for the first time on his 30th career start, 10 of which he has won. Never the easiest to catch right, he's having his first-ever start on this track but his quality can see him through and he looked as good as ever when landing the Tingle Creek a year ago. Tartak had Deep Purple seven lengths in arrears when successful in the Grade 2 Manifesto at Aintree in April last year but the positions were exactly reversed when the pair met in this race at Huntingdon in December. The former has the better of the weights and looks the alternative if Twist Magic has one of his non-going days. Ollie Magern is still useful but is approaching his teenage days and would need the principals to fail here.
Deep Purple 15-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, lost place after 13th, hung left from 4 out, stayed on fom 2 out, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Nacarat (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Herecomesthetruth (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Narrow lead, just headed when ran out and unseated rider 8th, in a race won by Tchico Polos (10-4) at Exeter 2m 1f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Twist Magic (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, blundered 4 out, rallied to chase winner last, stayed on well, just held, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Tchico Polos (10-4) at Exeter 2m 1f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Master Medic (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Held up mid-division, mistake 7th, under pressure 11th, soon behind, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Kauto Star (11-10) at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec '09, 13 ran.
Ollie Magern 11-1 (11-4) Led, headed approaching 4 out, lost 2nd last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 12l behind Nacarat (11-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Breedsbreeze (IRE) 5-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd 15th, ridden and no chance with winner after 2 out, 8 lenghts down when fell last, in a race won by Carruthers (11-0) at Ascot 3m nov chs G2 (1) hvy in Feb '09, 4 ran.
Tartak (FR) 15-8fav (10-9) Tracked leaders in 5th, hit 5th and 9th, left 4th 4 out, went 3rd soon after, outpaced next, no chance with leading pair from 2 out, 3rd of 6, 29l behind Monet's Garden (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f ltd hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Oct.
