tracked leaders, hit 9th, blundered 13th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
fell 1st
hampered and unseated rider 1st
fell 1st
held up, still last but in touch when fell 12th
tracked leader until after 4 out, weakened after next
held up, struggling 14th, plugged on from 2 out, went moderate 4th after last
led, ridden when mistake 2 out, soon headed, kept on same pace
in touch when virtually fell 3rd, behind, progress 14th, ridden to go 3rd 2 out, never back on terms with leaders
mid-divisiion, headway 8th, went 3rd 10th, led soon after 2 out, stayed on well, ridden out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
TOP DRESSING can put the icing on the cake for Ho Jo by completing a quickfire double. Calusa Caldera rates the most interesting of his opponents with Ruairi another we'll be keeping an eye on. Confidence in Suzy Smith's charge is tempered due to a fairly modest reappearance just seven days ago at Ascot in a race where few got competitive. It was run over an inadequate trip and seven days can be a long time but it may not be long enough on that evidence. Alphabetical continues to perform with credit but has nothing in hand of the assessor; remarks which could also be levelled at Black Hills and Keepthedreamalive, Theatre Diva and Laskari have to bounce back from modest runs when last seen whilst the handicapper may also be winning the battle with Down The Stretch and Nelson's Spice. He hasn't had too many opportunities to have a look at our two principals. The Hobbs runner won two of his five starts over hurdles for Brendan Powell and has to be of interest on his chase bow wearing the colours made famous by West Tip. He's yet to jump a fence in public though and this is a stiff enough track for a novice so we'll go with Top Dressing who should be sharper for his reappearance. He's yet to win beyond two miles but there's no reason to believe that he won't be fully effective at this trip and his trainer boasts a decent level stakes profit with his chasers here. Top Dressing can provide him with another winner. (Ian Ogg)
Black Hills 14-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, 2nd approaching 3 out, ridden in 4th and no extra entering straight, soon weakened, 8th of 16, 21l behind Notable D'Estruval (9-10) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 gd in Apr.
Keepthedreamalive 10-1 (11-9) Led, ridden and headed after 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 14, 13l behind Freds Benefit (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 2f nov chs gd in Apr.
Down The Stretch 15-2 (11-5) Prominent, blundered badly 4th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 13, 20l behind Fieldsofclover (10-4) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jun.
Direct Flight (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Behind, 5th and headway in to 4th after 4 out, ridden and weakened next, 5th of 8, 22l behind Charlies Future (11-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Theatre Diva (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Held up, mistake 7th, never dangerous, 9th of 14, well behind The Hollow Bottom (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Oct.
Billesey (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hampered 10th, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 38l behind Spirit Calling (10-11) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Apr.
Top Dressing (IRE) 3-1fav (11-3) Held up, reminders 7th, kept on under pressure from 2 out, never troubled leaders, 4th of 9, 20l behind Asudo (11-0) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Sept.
Calusa Caldera (IRE) 4-7fav (11-5) Led, ridden after 3 out, narrowly headed when left in lead 2 out, clear, hit last, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Nov '07 beating Andorran (10-12) by 5l, 9 ran.
Bermuda Pointe (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Tracked leader, mistake 8th, led 14th, hit 3 out, headed 2 out, and weakened, 4th of 11, 6l behind De Soto (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Creinch 8-1 (11-0) Held up in last place, improved 10th, outpaced approaching 12th, 3rd and 15 lengths down 3 out, headway approaching last, ridden to lead briefly flat, ran on, 2nd of 5, 1l behind First Feerie (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Ruairi (IRE) 17-2 (10-11) Mid-division, blundered 3rd, headway 8th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 37l behind Bleu Superbe (10-6) at Ascot 2m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd.
Alphabetical (IRE) 12-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, stayed on approaching 2 out, never reached leaders, 6th of 17, 13l behind Ouzbeck (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct.
Laskari (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, blundered 10th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Spirit of New York (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun, 12 ran.
Nelson's Spice (IRE) 7-4fav (10-13) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, jumped left 3rd, headway 8th, driven after 3 out, challenged 2 out, beaten before last, soon hung right, 5th of 7, 9l behind Loita Hills (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
