held up, ridden and hit 12th, driven and blundered 17th, well behind when hit 4 out
chased leaders, 2 lengths down in 3rd when blundered and fell 4 out
held up, hit 4th, stayed on from 2 out, stayed on strongly as winner tired flat, not quite get up
held up well in rear, headway and left 3rd 4 out, driven and weakened soon after 2 out, beaten when blundered last
chased leaders, mistake and weakened 15th, tailed off
led until 12th, well there when fell 14th
chased leader, led 12th, driven clear between last 2, hard ridden to hold on near finish, all out
in touch, chased winner after 17th, no impression and lost 2nd approaching last
always rear, reminders 9th, lost touch 11th, detached when pulled up before 4 out
held up, blundered 6th, headway 13th, chased leaders next, mistake and lost place 15th, rallied under pressure before 2 out, weakened before last
THE REAL DEAL gets the narrow vote in this competitive race ahead of Michael Muck and Martha's Kinsman. Well-held on his reappearance run at Chepstow in October, the selection returned there later in the month to record a much improved fourth behind Super Nick. Although arguably high enough in the weights he shapes as if he's running into form and he should go well. Several of these have talent but often mar their performances with jumping errors; horses such as The Sawyer, Squires Lane and Jim Bobs Girl have all become separated from their jockeys on recent runs. Beauchamp Prince has a fair racing weight, whilst Martha's Kinsman is starting to look attractively handicapped. Michael Muck is another to throw into the mix but he is becoming frustrating to follow and so we will return to The Real Deal as our idea of the winner.
The Real Deal (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, reminders 10th, ridden to dispute 2nd 5 out, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 15, 12l behind Super Nick (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Michael Muck 12-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 10, 8l behind Brenin Cwmtudu (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Martha's Kinsman (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 13th, soon ridden, weakened 5 out, 8th of 15, 37l behind Super Nick (11-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
The Sawyer (BEL) 5-1 (11-8) Prominent, led after 8th until 12th, struggling when blundered and unseated rider at the 17th in race won by Bowleaze (11-2) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft, 6 ran.
Squires Lane (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, lost place 16th, hampered and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Gaelic Gift (10-1) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr, 19 ran.
Kilty Storm (IRE) 13-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, led 11th, headed approaching last, one pace flat, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Zimbabwe (10-9) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb '07.
Jim Bobs Girl (IRE) 8-1 (10-4) fell in race won by Hello Bud (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs, 16 ran.
Prince De Bersy (FR) 7-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders, in 4th and one pace when blundered badly 4 out, no chance when pulled up 3 out in race won by Ngong Hills (10-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct, 10 ran.
Shifting Alliance (IRE) 12-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, 9th of 18, 39l behind Mistress Nell (10-7) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Beauchamp Prince (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, mistake 15th, never near leaders, 7th of 9, 28l behind What A Scientist (11-2) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
