made all, drew 8 lengths clear last, stayed on well, unextended
tracked winner to 8th, remained in touch, driven 3 out, kept on to regain 2nd flat, no chance with winner
blundered 1st, held up on outside, struggling 7th, soon lost touch, no danger after
chased leading trio, struggling 7th, soon lost touch, no danger after
in rear, struggling 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leading pair, mistake 2nd and next, chased winner 8th, driven 3 out, 8 lengths down when not fluent last, lost 2nd flat
held up, struggling 6th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
With the Howard Johnson yard returning from the big freeze in decent shape we will side with DIAMOND FRONTIER to win his first chase, while in a poor field Justtheoneforyou could emerge as the danger. The latter, a Malcolm Jefferson-trained gelding, has already shown some decent form over course and distance with cut in the ground. He is effective at trips from two miles up to three, though he does have a bit to prove now after failing to complete on his last two starts. Neptune Equester is one to note in the market on debut, though he looks sure to benefit for the outing, while Prince Tam is going to need to show plenty of improvement for his Ayr debut over fences and is probably one to watch for today. As for the selection, well Diamond Frontier has had just two runs over the bigger obstacles, when on both occasions he has shown a bit of speed. Therefore this drop back to two miles looks a positive, he acts on the ground, and with the opposition looking thin on the ground his trainer looks to have found a good race for him to break his chasing duck.
Diamond Frontier (IRE) 5-2 (11-1) Led to 5th, tracked leader, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 32l behind Comhla Ri Coig (11-1) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (3) hvy in Nov.
Justtheoneforyou 16-1 (10-13) Held up, pushed along approaching 12th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mill Side (11-7) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec, 11 ran.
Neptune Equester Sovereign Water gelding out of All Things Nice.
Prince Tam 80-1 (10-13) Held up in 3rd, weakened after 4 out, 4th of 5, well behind Bedlam Boy (11-5) at Ayr 2m nov chs (3) sft in Dec.
Skipping Chapel 40-1 (11-3) Held up, mistake 3rd, badly hampered 10th, weakened 5 out, 8th of 13, well behind Dar Es Salaam (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Smugglers Bay (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Behind, weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Open de L'Isle (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy in Nov.
Recoil (IRE) 250-1 (9-13) In rear, not fluent 3rd, always behind, 10th of 11, 50l behind Kalellshan (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m nov chs (4) gf in Sep.
