mid-division when lost action and pulled up after 8th
made most to 8th, chased leaders, ridden and one pace approaching 2 out
in touch, headway to lead 4 out, ridden last, headed and no extra flat
chased leaders, driven and outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened
held up behind, headway 4 out, kept on from next, never trouble leaders
mid-division, reminders 8th, chased leaders 4 out, kept on same pace from next
mid-division, reminders 7th, behind from next, tailed off
mid-division on inside, outpaced 4 out, no impression from next
always behind, tailed off 3 out
mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leader next, ridden and one pace approaching last
with leader, led 8th, headed 4 out, outpaced next, rallied approaching last, ridden and stayed on to lead again flat
chased leaders to 7th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 4 out
with leaders, lost place 4 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 4 out, challenged next, kept on and every chance until ridden and no extra flat
Our Jim is the selection to land the opener where Doris's Gift and Millie The Filly are likely to provide stern opposition. Donald McCains' charge stepped up considerably on what he had shown previously by landing victory on his handicap debut. That win was achieved over a much longer distance than previously tackled and up 4lb for that success, that rise may not be enough to prevent him posting back-to-back wins. Doris's Gift has failed to exploit a discrepency between her chase and hurdles mark as a result of jumping errors. A reproduction of her Kelso second in December behind Mensio would see her get involved, however, this outing might just be a confidence booster with a return to chasing in mind. Millie The Filly has been progressing and was likely to be involved when exiting three out last time. Off the same mark today she has to enter calculations, with an experienced conditional aboard a further positive. A slight concern is her apparent preference for soft ground though. Kilcoe Castle has winning Irish point to point form. Out of form of late, a fourth placing in a Fairyhouse handicap hurdle in Feburary 2007 would bring him into the reckoning. Alfabet Souk had respectable bumper form but has failed to progress. Our Jim is our selection over Doris's Gift and Millie The Filly.
Vecchio Senso (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Prominent, not fluent 9th, weakened from next, 7th of 13, 39l behind Allegedly So (10-12) at Newcastle 3m nov hdl (3) sft in Jan '07.
Cha Cha Cha Dancer 25-1 (11-1) Led 1st to 4th, tracked leaders, effort 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 18, 15l behind Pelo Du Bief (11-2) at Newcastle 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft.
Our Jim 7-1 (11-0) Held up, pushed along and headway approaching 2 out, led approaching last, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec beating Moon Melody (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mac's Conflict (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Led and disputed, dropped to 4th before straight, soon no impression under pressure, kept on same pace, 6th of 17, 19l behind Bellflower Boy (11-4) at Limerick 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-102 hvy in Dec.
Kilcoe Castle (IRE) 9-2 (10-4) Held up, headway 4th, ridden approaching 3 out, behind when fell at the last in race won by Honour's Dream (11-2) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft, 10 ran.
Doris's Gift 7-4fav (10-13) Tracked winner until fell at the 8th in race won by Native Coll (10-0) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs (5) sft, 14 ran.
Tobesure (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, challenged before next, outpaced approaching 2 out, lost 2nd after last, no extra, 3rd of 17, 25l behind Sarrococca (11-8) at Wetherby 3m hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs in Dec.
Millie The Filly 10-3 (9-7) Tracked leaders, close up 3rd when blundered and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Rightful Ruler (11-10) at Musselburgh 3m ldy hcp hdl (4) sft, 6 ran.
Galloway Mac 16-1 (11-8) Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 12, 36l behind Monash Lad (11-8) at Sedgefield 2m 1f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) hvy.
Liz's Dream 100-1 (10-12) Raced wide, held up, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Here's Johnny (11-6) at Perth 3m nh nov hdl (2) sft in Apr.
Alfabet Souk 20-1 (9-11) Chasing leaders when mistake 1st, soon lost place, struggling from 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Sea Cadet (10-12) at Doncaster 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs, 11 ran.
Paint The Lily (IRE) 66-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, behind from next, 11th of 13, well behind Thehonourablelady (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f mrs hcp hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Billsgrey (IRE) 125-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off 4 out, 9th of 15, well behind Master Builder (11-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Galahad (FR) 50-1 (10-0) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Negus de Beaumont (11-10) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Nov '06, 19 ran.
L'Apprenti Sorcier (FR) 15-2 (10-0) Chased winner, lost place 6th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Our Joycey (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy, 11 ran.
