held up, held with leaders 5 out, ridden next one pace no impression
made most until headed approaching 12th, weakened after 5 out, pulled up approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake when lost pace 10th
held up in touch, took closer order, led 12th, headed 4 out, one pace and no impression
held up, soon struggling tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
towards rear, headway 5 out, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, blundered badly 1st, soon behind, never dangerous
tracked leaders, hampered 1st, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened last
mid-division, hampered 1st, behind after
pulled up, tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out
prominent, led 4 out, hard ridden 2 out, kept on well
chased leaders, lost place 7th, soon behind
Nonrunner
Vandas Choice has found one too good in each of his last two starts and is entitled to be thereabouts again but another 2lb rise in the weights for his latest success leaves him with more to do and preference is for Joly Bey, with Little Big Horse and Brooklyn Breeze rated the best of the remainder. The selection is useful on his day and suggested at Wincanton on his return three weeks ago that there would be more to come on his second start. Sonevafushi lacks a recent run, while Mister McGoldrick has yet to prove his effectiveness over today's trip. Horus is capable on his day and lack of a recent run should not be of concern but he is difficult to recommend with any confidence on the form that he showed last term. Given the form of Ferdy Murphy's horses, Supreme Developer has to be respected although of more interest may be Market Rasen winner Little Big Horse, who failed to reproduce his form there at Huntingdon last time. Len Lungo's Brooklyn Breeze was never able to get competitive in the Paddy Power Gold Cup last time and may be better judged by his previous success at Aintree; however, Joly Bey took the eye at Wincanton and he gets the vote for the in-form yard of Nick Gifford.
Mister McGoldrick 25-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 8th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 11, 13l behind Impek (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) gd.
Joly Bey (FR) 20-1 (11-9) Prominent, ridden 4 out, stayed on one pace from 3 out, 5th of 12, 18l behind Iris Bleu (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (A) gd.
Vandas Choice (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, driven 4 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on under pressure to lead after last, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind St Matthew (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f lst hcp chs (A) sft in Oct.
Risk Accessor (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Always towards rear, 6th of 11, 45l behind I Hear Thunder (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Oct.
Ballybough Rasher (IRE) 100-1 (11-4) Mistakes in rear, behind when refused at the 22th in race won by Hedgehunter (11-1) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Apr, 40 ran.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 11-2 (12-0) Held up in touch, bumped 3rd, mistake 13th, weakened approaching 4 out, no chance when mistakes 3 out and last, 5th of 6, well behind Distant Thunder (11-4) at Newbury 3m nov chs (C) gs in Feb.
Supreme Developer (IRE) 12-1 (10-1) Held up, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, one pace and no impression from next, 4th of 9, 21l behind Impek (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (A) sft in Oct.
Little Big Horse (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Led to 3rd, prominent until weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, 25l behind Run For Paddy (11-7) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Oct.
Lord Maizey (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-0) Led, challenged 5 out, headed next, narrow lead 3 out, left clear 2 out, weakened last, finished tired, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Dec '03 beating Jimmy Tennis (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Sonevafushi (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Led, hit 13th, headed well before 2 out, hung right before last, weakened, 3rd of 5, 20l behind Liverpool Echo (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov chs (B) gd in Apr.
Direct Access (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) fell in race won by Garvivonnian (10-4) at Aintree 3m 3f lst hcp chs (A) gs, 19 ran.
Robbo 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led after 6th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Ungaro (11-10) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) sft.
Brooklyn Breeze (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, blundered 6th, no chance when badly hampered 2 out, 12th of 18, 31l behind Our Vic (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs.
Horus (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, mistake 12th, weakened next, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Sleeping Night (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (B) gd in Apr.
