held up until fell 2nd
held up, headway to chase leading pair from 9th, stayed on run-in, went 2nd near finish
chased leaders, blundered and lost touch 8th, pulled up after next
chased leader, led approaching 10th, made rest, all out
raced in 3rd, hit 6th, last and beaten when blundered 10th, tailed off
led, jumped right 9th, headed approaching next, chased winner, well held when driven after 3 out, no impression and lost 2nd near finish
Najca De Thaix is certainly no good thing given his record, however his second on his reappearance reads well in the context of this race and so he gets the most tentative of votes, ahead of Master T and Running Hot. Emma Lavelle's charge has now run twice in a visor and having run fairly well on good to firm ground at the track two runs back, a big run should be forthcoming here, assuming that his jumping holds up. Master T is a course and distance winner and whilst he has top-weight to carry, Gary Moore's horses are in good form and his charge has been running consistently well of late. Running Hot has shown good battling qualities in the past, and is very effective over the course and distance on soft ground. However he has tended to need the run in the past so is therefore opposed. Lidjo De Rouge is another for consideration having shown promise on his few runs in the UK so far, however it is Najca De Thaix who is taken to score.
Master T (USA) 7-2jt-fav (11-7) Held up in 6th, hit 7th, mistake 10th, went 3rd under pressure after 3 out, no impression when hit next, 3rd of 7, 5l behind The Hardy Boy (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
Lidjo De Rouge (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, reminder 9th, went 3rd 3 out, stayed on well from last, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Pauntley Gofa (10-13) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Mystical Star (FR) 10-3fav (11-12) In touch, mistake 5th, ridden 8th, soon struggling, 5th of 9, 36l behind Kirov King (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Mar '06.
Najca De Thaix (FR) 3-1fav (11-1) Jumped right and unseated rider in race won by Golden Oak (10-8) at Towcester 2m 3f chs 0-95 (5) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Running Hot 11-4 (10-12) Led until headed 9th, lost 2nd approaching 4 out, rallied briefly to press for 2nd 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 5, 10l behind Clearly In Motion (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
French Direction (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 11, 14l behind Bill Owen (11-10) at Folkestone 2m hcp chs 0-88 (5) gf in Oct.
