chased leaders, weakened 12th, soon in rear, no chance when blundered 2 out
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, satyed on same pace from next
mid-division, headway 11th, chased leaders 4 out, weakened from 2 out
soon chasing leaders, hit 9th and next, still well there 4 out, weakened after next
mid-division, headway 11th, driven to chase leaders approaching 4 out, weakened from next
not fluent, always behind, ridden and struggling 11th, tailed off
towards rear, blundered 12th, some headway after 4 out, soon ridden and weakened
always towards rear, never in contention
towards rear when fell 11th
chased leaders, led 12th, made rest, in command after 2 out, stayed on well
chased leaders, driven approaching 4 out, soon weakened and eased, tailed off
mid-division, reminders 9th, slightly hampered 11th, stayed on well on outside after 2 out, went 3rd soon after last, never going pace to reach front pair
chased leaders to 10th, soon behind, tailed off
hit 9th, blundered next, always towards rear
took keen hold, led, headed 12th, chased winner after, tried to rally approaching 2 out, well held soon after
Nonrunner
Natal won this last year off a light weight but he is at the other end of the handicap today and is taken on accordingly; from a shortlist of HOBBS HILL, Hold Em, Ouzbeck and Stan, the nomination is given to Hobbs Hill. Charlie Egerton's gelding was bought by J P McManus last year but then took a nasty fall on his next start. He made a pleasing enough return to the track in January at Cheltenham in the race won by Stan and likely to have improved physically for that run, a bold show is anticipated on a track that suits. Starzaan is an interesting contender after a break; Tom Scudamore takes the ride for the first time but the horses' beating of Noland at Ayr last season reads well. Hold Em ran another gutsy race behind Nacarat in the Racing Post Chase a week ago and he takes his racing well but it is not hard to envisage him bumping into a couple too good again, so of more interest for win backers may be Ouzbeck. He got rid of Robert Thornton in the Pendil last weekend and assuming he is none the worse for that mishap then he is entitled to run well back in handicap company. Stan is likely to run better back over this trip, and the stable remain in top form, whilst Mr Pointment is likely to use this as a stepping stone to a race at Aintree over the National fences. Reveillez has a bit to prove after a lacklustre comeback, whilst Fundamentalist is another who needs to bounce back from not completing when last seen. Down at the other end of the weights The Package and Sir Bathwick make a degree of appeal, with the former stepping up in trip having won here in the past over two miles. This looks a typically tough Saturday handicap to puzzle over for hours, but we will take a chance on Hobbs Hill.
Natal (FR) 18-1 (11-7) Held up, mistakes, lost place 4th, weakened 9th, last of 5, well behind Master Minded (11-7) at Ascot 2m 1f chs Grd 1 (1) gs in Jan.
Stan (NZ) 33-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden along 13th, weakened soon after next, 11th of 20, 34l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd.
Ouzbeck (FR) 15-8 (11-7) Chased winner, mistake 2nd, blundered and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Herecomesthetruth (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd, 4 ran.
Starzaan (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, ridden to lead 4 out, hit and headed next, rallied last, led towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr beating Noland (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Hobbs Hill 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, 12th of 14, well behind Stan (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Jan.
Mr Pointment (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Held up and close 5th, left 2nd 4 out, ridden next, no impression after 2 out, 2nd of 5, 17l behind Gone To Lunch (11-7) at Newbury 3m Grad Ch (2) gs in Dec.
Fundamentalist (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Lost touch quickly after 4th and pulled up at the 6th in race won by Niche Market (9-9) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec, 14 ran.
Too Forward (IRE) 10-1 (10-5) Raced wide, held up towards rear, headway 12th, went 2nd after 2 out, ridden and found little flat, lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 3l behind The Sawyer (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan.
Hold Em (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Held up, headway from 10th, chased winner 4 out, until last no extra flat, 4th of 20, 11l behind Nacarat (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd.
New Little Bric (FR) 33-1 (10-3) Never travelling in rear, reminders 9th, blunders and struggling 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Nacarat (10-13) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd, 20 ran.
The Hollow Bottom 10-3fav (10-0) Mid-division, chased winner from 9th, hit 14th, weakened from 16th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Endless Power (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 13 ran.
Mister Quasimodo 28-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, blundered 2nd, lost place, struggling from 7th, soon tailed off, 8th of 10, 34l behind Osako D'airy (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) hvy.
Sir Bathwick (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Slight lead until hit 6th, narrow lead 8th until 10th, chased winner to 14th, weakened into last when left poor 3rd 4 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Gone To Lunch (11-7) at Newbury 3m Grad Ch (2) gs in Dec.
Warpath (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leader, hit 4th, soon lost 2nd, last and well outpaced after 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on flat, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Pepsyrock (10-8) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
The Package 4-1 (11-0) Led, joined 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, held run-in, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Restless D'artaix (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 1f beg chs (4) hvy.
Reveillez 28-1 (10-13) Blundered 11th, always in rear, tailed off and pulled up 5 out in race won by The Sawyer (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Jan, 13 ran.
Money Order (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Towards rear, mistake 7th, weakened 9th, tailed off, last of 10, well behind Osako D'airy (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) hvy.
