held up and keen, mid-division, ridden and weakened 2 out
always in the rear, ridden 6th
tracked leaders, hit 8th, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace flat
towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, ran on
mid-division, took closer order 7th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leader, led 2nd, ridden 2 out, fading when headed approaching last
led, headed and hit 2nd, stayed prominent, hit 5th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
never dangerous
mid-division, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, ridden and not fluent 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never on terms
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened after 2 out
in touch, lost place 6th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up, hit 5th, headway approaching 2 out, ridden and took 3rd flat
always in the rear
A drop in trip will suit Six Day War however there are dangers-a-plenty in this competitive handicap and narrow preference is for BALLYDUB over Afrad, Group Captain and Otto Des Pictons. Philip Hobbs has got his horses running well and this progressive gelding was in the process of running a massive race behind Big Bucks when taking a heavy fall at Cheltenham last time. With the last-named beating Punchestowns since and firmly entering the World Hurdle scene, that form looks solid as a rock. Otto Des Pictons represents a jockey and trainer combo that do extremely well at the track; the gelding was given a quiet ride last time on his reappearance and whilst his future may eventually lie over fences, it would be no surprise to see a big performance today. Cruchain has an 8lb rise in the weights for an Ascot win last time and AP McCoy interestingly jumps ship to ride Nicky Henderson's Afrad. One of two from the yard in the race, it might be significant that this talented dual performer is partnered by the Champion Jockey on this reappearance run, however it may be misleading as he couldn't do the weight on his retainer's horse Night Cru. How's Business, Coda Agency and Jaunty Journey all won on their previous starts but this race looks tougher and the handicapper has had his say with all, Group Captain is a standing dish in these competitive handicaps but he doesn't have anything in hand with the handicapper and is taken on as a result. Chief Yeoman represents a trainer in great form and he has been racing in better company of late; this looks a very slight drop in class however and nearly as competitive as the race won last time by the admirable Lough Derg. The trickiest race of the card so far, but preference is for the exciting Ballydub.
Hills Of Aran 9-4 (11-0) Towards rear, headway 15th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 32l behind Carnival Town (11-0) at Chepstow 3m 2f beg chs (4) hvy.
Group Captain 9-1 (10-8) In rear, ridden 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd after last, 2nd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Lough Derg (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gs.
Ballydub (IRE) 15-8fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, headway next, challenging when fell 2 out in race won by Big Buck's (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs, 11 ran.
Chief Yeoman 15-2 (9-13) In touch, ridden to chase winner 3 out, challenged 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 18, 5l behind Lough Derg (11-10) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gs.
Blue Shark (FR) 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 7th, not fluent 3 out, disputing close 3rd when badly hampered and nearly unseated rider 2 out, not recover, 8th of 11, 26l behind Big Buck's (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs.
Khachaturian (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Led 2nd, reminder 5th, headed 6th, led again 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened after last, 4th of 12, 14l behind United (11-7) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec.
Jaunty Journey 50-1 (11-3) Made most, hit 8th, ridden when mistake 3 out, ran on, won at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) hvy beating Bally Sands (10-13) by 5l, 13 ran.
Six Day War (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mostly chased leader, led 3 out, headed when not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 12, 18l behind Maktu (10-9) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft.
Cruchain (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden and edged left, narrowly headed last, hard ridden and rallied gamely, led towards finish, won at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Dec beating Busker Royal (11-12) by 1/2l,.
Otto des Pictons (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Held up rear, stayed on from 2 out, 6th of 10, 9l behind Brenin Cwmtudu (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
How's Business 7-1 (11-12) Held up early, good headway to lead after 3rd, ridden 3 out, pushed clear from last, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd beating Chesapeake (11-2) by 7l, 8 ran.
Coda Agency 9-2 (11-5) In touch, tracked leader 8th, led next, pecked 3 out, led and clear from 2 out, won at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Nov beating House Of Bourbon (11-9) by 9l, 11 ran.
Night Cru 3-1fav (11-8) Prominent, led 5th, ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 3 1/2l behind Oldrik (11-5) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Rathcor 20-1 (11-10) Towards rear, led approaching 2 out, headed 2 out, not quicken from last, 2nd of 19, 13l behind Vodka Brook (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs.
Afrad (FR) 8-13fav (11-8) Led and not jumped well, jumped left throughout, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 5, 25l behind Ice Crystal (10-9) at N Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) gf in Apr '07.
