chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out where mistake and weakened soon after
held up in mid-division, headway under pressure before 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd last, kept on flat, nearest finish
in touch, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace before last
soon chased leader, led 6th, made rest, ridden clear when jumped right last, stayed on well
in touch, hit 2nd, pushed along after 3 out, one pace and no impression before next
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, challenged for 3rd on outside 2 out, weakened flat
led to 6th, chased winner until 2 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, some headway before next, soon no extra
always behind, hit 5th and struggling after
always behind, struggling after 3 out, eased when well beaten before next
always in rear
chased leaders, stumbled 1st, lost place before 4th, soon well behind, last and struggling 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
always rear division, ridden after 3 out, soon struggling
soon chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened and eased before next
always in rear, ridden and struggling 3 out
soon towards rear, headway under pressure on inside before 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd last, not reached winner
jumped slowly 2nd, soon towards rear, some headway after 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
behind, ridden after 3 out, stayed on from next, kept on flat, nearest finish
always rear division, ridden and struggling after 3 out
CALUSA CHARLIE is taken to defy his lay-off, Hernando Royal looks sure to go close whilst Space Mission and Bobby Gee may also go well from those near the top of the weights. A good bit has to be taken on trust with the selection given that he's been absent from the racetrack since 2006 but its interesting that his owner has persevered and booked Richard Johnson. Jamie Snowden sent out a welcome winner earlier in the week and the selection has some smart in the book with placed efforts behind Star De Mohaison and Don't Push It to his name; if retaining his ability and if fit enough then he could go close. Space Mission reverts to hurdling after three runs over fences in decent company and he could be competitive in his first handicap with this mark looking pretty reasonable. Hernando Royal has been all the rage in a couple of handicaps and may well be again but he's beginning to build up a frustrating profile and may need all the cards to drop right. Bobby Gee has been disappointing on his two starts this year but is unexposed and was quietly progressive last season. He's one of several that could have a say in the outcome but we'll take a chance on the fitness of Calusa Charlie.
Space Mission (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, no chance from last, 2nd of 8, 16l behind Its A Dream (11-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Dec.
South O'The Border 8-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden every chance 3 out and 2 out, not pace of winner flat, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Suntini (10-1) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Hernando Royal 5-1fav (9-8) Chased leaders, ridden and every chance after 2 out, 4th and beaten when not fluent last, 4th of 15, 19l behind Presenting Copper (10-8) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl (2) hvy in Jan.
Cathedral Rock (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Prominent chased leaders 6th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 19, 24l behind Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Bobby Gee 9-1 (11-8) Mid-division, ridden and chased leaders approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 19, 20l behind Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan.
Victorias Groom (GER) 16-1 (11-12) Prominent, ridden and weakened 8th, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 19 ran.
At The Money 16-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led 3rd to 5th, ridden and weakened 8th, pulled up before 2 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Jan, 19 ran.
Estate 3-1jt-fav (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden after 7th, weakened after 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Idian Mix (10-1) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in May, 11 ran.
Go Amwell 33-1 (11-0) pulled up 2 out in race won by Maktu (10-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Calusa Charlie (IRE) 20-1 (9-7) Prominent, went 2nd 6th, led 9th, mistake and headed 2 out, soon no chance with easy winner and lost 2nd last, 3rd of 17, 12l behind Star De Mohaison (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (3) gs in Nov '06.
Widely Accepted (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 5th, effort after 3 out, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Wise Men Say (10-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Perkin Warbeck 14-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, kept on same pace from 3 out, 4th of 21, 21l behind Kangaroo Court (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Helm (IRE) 40-1 (10-10) Held up, behind from 8th, tailed off, 5th of 7, well behind Heathcliff (10-5) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan.
Major Miller 7-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, led after 6th to next, led 8th until next, stayed handy, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, eased and pulled up 4 out in race won by I'm The Decider (11-3) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Kristoffersen 40-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden 5th, tailed off 6th, stayed on strongly from 2 out, never on terms, 5th of 14, 23l behind Six Day War (11-4) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Dec.
Isle de Maurice 10-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, under pressure 5th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Hello Moscow (11-3) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) hvy, 12 ran.
Idris (GER) 9-2 (11-9) Chased leader, mistake 5th, not fluent 7th, ridden after next, lost touch from 9th, 6th of 7, well behind Pop Ahead (11-5) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Jan.
He's The Gaffer (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, reminders 10th, mistake 12th, struggling after 14th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Parsons Legacy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct, 17 ran.
Arctic Shadow 11-1 (10-10) Raced wide, held up in mid-division, effort and ridden after 9th, no impression on leaders from 3 out, 5th of 16, 16l behind I'm The Decider (11-3) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Jan.
