held up, not fluent and ridden 7th, hard ridden and no impression after 3 out
tracked leaders, led 8th to 4 out, ridden after next, weakened and virtually pulled up soon after 2 out
tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd flat
soon led, headed 8th, stayed close up until weakened quickly after 3 out
held up last, good headway to track leaders 3 out, led going well 2 out, soon clear, comfortably
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd and next, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, pushed along after 6th, under pressure after 3 out, stayed on to chase leading pair 2 out, took 2nd but no impression flat
Tarongo is the one to beat ahead of The Leader and Flower of Pitcur, with Nephite best watched on his return. Tarongo was unluckily brought down at the seventh fence at Fakenham in November but prior to that, Lavinia Taylor's inmate had squeezed out a victory at Stratford before his jumping let him down on a return visit. He has done well considering the fact that he has gone up nearly 20lb in the last two years, and at the age of seven, has more scope than his opponents today, including The Leader. He has been a bit of a Folkestone specialist in the past and also ran well when second at Hereford last time. He is not well off at the weights but goes well right-handed and as long as the ground does not dry out, can give the selection most to do. Flower of Pitcur really needs to brush up his jumping and Nephite has not been out since pulling up at Worcester in September 2003. All in all, the youngest runner in the line-up, Tarongo, has most going for him and is the percentage call.
Harik 25-1 Always behind, lost touch after 10th, tailed off, last of 6, 47l behind Polar Scout at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Dec.
Flower of Pitcur 5-1 Behind, mistake 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Lorient Express at Windsor 2m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Dec, 9 ran.
The Leader 16-1 Held up and keen, headway 7th, left in lead 3 out, headed 2 out, chased winner from next, no extra, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Laurier D'estruval at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs.
Nephite (NZ) 12-1 Led to 2nd, with leader, hit 6th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Auditty at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gf in Sept '03, 8 ran.
Tarongo (FR) 5-2jt-fav Held up, hampered and unseated rider at the 7th in race won by Wild Power at Fakenham 2m hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Reach The Clouds (IRE) 16-1 Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced 3 out, weakened after next, 7th of 8, 44l behind King Of The Arctic at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (E) sft in Dec.
The Staggery Boy (IRE) 20-1 Held up in touch, lost place approaching 9th, soon struggling, tailed off, 6th of 10, well behind Woodenbridge Dream at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Feb.
