held up in touch, hit 11th and outpaced, hit 3 out, kept on, no impression
held up, mistake 7th, blundered 10th, soon weakened
close up, blundered 12th, led approaching 2 out, all out
held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders when hit 9th, weakened from 4 out
chased leaders when unseated rider 1st
held up, led 6th, blundered 11th and 12th, headed approaching 2 out, held in 3rd when fell heavily last
chased leaders, blundered and unseated rider 5th
in touch, chased leaders approaching 10th, chased winner approaching last, stayed on, driven out
led to 6th, pushed along after 9th, soon struggling
prominent early, towards rear, struggling from 8th
Nonrunner
SINGS OF LOVE may be able to make the most of a drop in class by overcoming the challenges of Senor Shane and Omme Antique. The gelding hasn't been easy to train and hasn't fulfilled his initial promise but he has shown signs that he retains sufficient ability to win a race of this nature. It was disappointing that he failed to land a blow at Newbury but that was a stronger race than this and he's given another chance with Richard Johnson taking over in the saddle. Omme Antique ran one of his better races at Warwick on Thursday but he, too, has had his problems and is far from certain to build on that or to be suited by this slightly shorter trip. Senor Shane has risen just 5lbs for his victory at Lingfield where he didn't appear to be doing an awful lot in front despite the fitting of headgear for the first time. He's well enough handicapped and will be suited by the track and the conditions but may not be one to rely on. King Raven needs a market check on his chase bow with a top jockey booked whilst Noble Bily showed more last time and is another one to bear in mind if the market speaks positively. The Hardy Boy is a former winner of this race and is another that enters calculations but preference is for Signs Of Love.
Signs of Love (FR) 13-2 (11-9) Prominent in chasing group, blundered 7th, ridden along from 10th, weakened and hit 4 out, 5th of 13, 47l behind Fighting Chance (11-7) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec.
Legal Glory (IRE) 15-2 (11-9) Held up, mistake 5th, ridden and headway approaching 3 out, third when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by John Diamond (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov '07, 9 ran.
Senor Shane (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Made all, jumped right 1st and 2nd, slow 3rd, clear 6th, ridden 2 out, driven and hung left flat, all out, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Dec beating Captain Tidds (11-9) by 1l, 10 ran.
Royal Kicks (FR) 9-2 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway into mid-division 9th, plugged on one pace from 4 out, 4th of 10, 21l behind Fine Parchment (11-2) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Nov.
Uncle Eli (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, jumped left and slowly throughout, lost place 11th, soon tailed off, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Doctor Pat (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec, 8 ran.
King Raven (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened between last 2, 4th of 8, 15l behind Lets Go Girls (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) hvy in Dec.
The Hardy Boy 12-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 11th, soon weakened, pulled up 5 out, in a race won by Gunship (9-13) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy in Dec, 7 ran.
Omme Antique (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Prominent, raced keenly, hit 7th, weakened 2 out, mistake last, 3rd of 12, 10l behind Afistfullofpebbles (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Dec.
Himba 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, blundered 7th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Devils River (11-1) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Alderbrook Girl (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until lost place 4th, soon in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Noun De La Thinte (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
Black Ven (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Not much room and hampered 1st, mainly always in rear, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Buffalo Bob (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov, 13 ran.
Noble Bily (FR) 10-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway 4 out, soon ridden, never on terms, 6th of 13, 14l behind Nostringsattached (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
