held up in touch towards rear, ridden 8th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
took keen hold, went prominent 2nd, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
in touch in rear, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 6th, mistake 8th, soon driven, beaten 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 4th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
led until approaching 7th, soon ridden and dropped out, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch in rear, jumped slowly 2nd, headway after 6th, challenged next, led after 3 out, in command last, stayed on well
prominent, ridden and every chance 3 out, not fluent next, no impression on leaders approaching last
chased leaders, led approaching 7th until next, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
in touch in rear, headway approaching 7th, led next, not fluent and headed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, no impression on leaders approaching last
Najca De Thaix arrives fit from the Flat and it will be interesting to see if he attracts any support on his first run over obstacles for a new yard as he's 9lbs below his last winning mark but he's hardly the most reliable. Salpierre disappointed on his handicap bow but represents a top yard that does well here and it would be no surprise to see him fare better but the tentative suggestion is the appropriately named KEEP GUESSING. He's been fairly well held in all four career starts but this half-brother to a talented individual appeals as the type to fare better now handicapping. Closesthingtocrazy was a beaten favourite for this yard but may find that this very different track is more to his liking than Towcester whilst the likes of Sumner, Hot Tottie and Galley Slave are all entitled to figure.
Keep Guessing 25-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden and beaten when hit 3 out and last, 7th of 10, 16l behind Shalamiyr (11-0) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in May.
Closesthingtocrazy 4-1fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, challenged 4th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 13, 33l behind Amuse Me (10-11) at Towcester 2m 4yo Am hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
Najca De Thaix (FR) 40-1 (11-9) Reluctant to race, always well behind, hit 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Bradford Boris (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Mar, 10 ran.
Inchloch 33-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Corso Palladio (11-0) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct, 17 ran.
Galley Slave (IRE) 7-2fav (9-13) Tracked leaders, ridden and with winner 2 out, outpaced approaching last, rallied near finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Motarjm (11-8) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Salpierre (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along in 9th and struggling before 3 out, 8th of 15, well behind Prince Massini (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Oct.
Hot Tottie (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division on outer, lost place approaching 6th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 11, 19l behind Miss Saffron (10-13) at Exeter 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Phar Again (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Mistakes, led until 3rd, prominent, chased winner 4 out until 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 7, 22l behind McQueen (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp 0-90 (5) gs in Oct.
Spice Bar 8-1 (11-2) Mid-division on inside, reminders 3rd, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 14, 24l behind Robbmaa (9-13) at Worcester 2m sell hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gd in Aug.
Dance Sauvage 28-1 (10-0) Led, headed approaching 2nd, hit 3rd, weakened after 4 out, 9th of 17, 31l behind Wheyaye (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 6f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Sumner (IRE) 5-1 (10-11) Held up in rear on outside, headway from 5th, went 2nd after 7th, went right 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 11, 2 1/4l behind Jeanry (9-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.