led to before 4th, tracked leader, lost place 9th, soon behind
in touch, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, chased leaders 2 out, soon one pace
in touch, effort 2 out, soon chased winner, kept on same pace
in touch, effort when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
behind, blundered 4th, headway to chase leaders 2 out, kept on same pace
jumped right, prominent, led before 4th, headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up, headway and in touch 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, lost place 9th, tailed off
mid-division on outside, weakened 3 out
held up, headway 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up, headway 3 out, led after next, stayed on well
with leaders, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
in touch, lost place 6th, headway 3 out, soon ridden and no impression
It looks likely to be tough for Tarateeno to win from today's mark, so we will side with MOCHO to get the better of him, while Dream Garden and Dan Buoy are of interest. The last-named has been in good shape on the Fibresand just lately, winning and then finishing second in successive handicaps at the track. He goes on this ground on turf and has been dropped a handy-looking 10lbs since his last run in this sphere looks a threat. Cornelia represents a yard among the winners but has a lot to find with Tarateeno on their running last time and is taken on along with the latter, who probably wants more cut in the ground and after scraping home last time, just looks to have a few pounds too many now. Dream Garden will relish conditions and trip and would look well handicapped if able to reproduce his chasing ability over the smaller obstacles. However, he still has it to prove on the racecourse and he has plenty of racing weight to carry. Long Hop has ground to suit and will hopefully show more than he did from this mark at Taunton last month, but we prefer Mocho. Ian Williams has had his string in great nick since the turn of the year and his lightly-raced nine-year-old goes well on soft ground. Arguably unexposed over hurdles, today may well be the day to catch him right.
Dream Garden 20-1 (10-12) Led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed last, no extra, 2nd of 12, 4l behind Quentin Collonges (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Long Hop (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Close up on outside, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression, 5th of 11, 8l behind Deep Pockets (10-3) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Quincy Des Pictons (FR) 11-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway 9th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, 4th of 10, 9l behind Double Mead (11-12) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Dec.
Tarateeno 9-2 (11-4) In touch, pushed along approaching 4th, tracked leaders approaching 8th, challenged 3 out, every chance last, ridden flat, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec beating Callerlilly (11-7) by nk, 9 ran.
Quelqu'un Comme Toi (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, no impression after, 12th of 24, 21l behind Lord Ragnar (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs in Nov.
Ragamuffin Man (IRE) 11-2fav (10-13) Chased leaders, mistake, lost place 4 out, stayed on in top 3rd 2 out, one pace, no impression when hit last, 3rd of 14, 6l behind Zarrafakt (11-8) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Nov.
Sotovik (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, weakened 5 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Reindeer Dippin (11-0) at Hexham 2m nov chs (4) hvy in Dec, 9 ran.
Filippo Lippi (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 15, 38l behind Duke Of Lucca (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) hvy in Dec.
Kings Rock 16-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden 7th, soon weakened, 9th of 13, well behind Winterwood (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Dec.
Cornelia 4-1fav (11-1) Held up, with leaders and mistake approaching 9th, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 9, 44l behind Tarateeno (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Dec.
Mocho (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) In rear, hit 1st, headway 11th, struggling 17th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 10, 35l behind Any Currency (11-7) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Dan Buoy (FR) 7-1 (11-1) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway after 6th, lost place before 8th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd when hit last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 12, 14l behind Villochely (10-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gd in Mar.
Stick Together 3-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, pushed along after 6th, chased winner from 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 7, 5l behind Peters Star (10-7) at Haydock 3m 1f cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) hvy in Nov.
Omix D'or (FR) 50-1 (11-12) Held up, always towads rear, tailed off 6th, 6th of 13, well behind Prince Geeno (11-9) at Warwick 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) sft in Dec.
