led until ridden and headed 10th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 10th, ridden to lead 4 out, headed approaching 3 out, rallied last, led flat
prominent, ridden and weakened after 10th, pulled up before 12th
held up last, ridden and weakened 10th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leader until mistake and unseated rider 5th
in touch, ridden and effort 4 out, held when left 4th 3 out
prominent, chased leader 9th, led 10th, headed 4 out, weakened 3 out
mid-division, reminders after 6th, soon lost touch, pulled up after 9th
prominent, mistake 9th, headway 10th, ridden 4 out, fell 3 out
held up last, ridden approaching 10th, headway 4 out, left 3rd 3 out, kept on
mid-division, ridden and headway after 11th, led approaching 3 out, headed flat, no extra
towards rear, weakened 10th, pulled up before 12th
We're keen to take Adare Prince on and fancy PISTOL DESBOIS to gun him down; Young Dancer, Borero and Elsie's Pride are amongst the alternatives. Adare Prince has been raised by 7lbs for winning at Hereford which may not be enough in itself to stop him but he was the recipient of a vintage McCoy ride that day and isn't always the most willing partner. Borero ran well enough in a fair race at Newbury to make the short-list and is relatively unexposed whilst Elsie's Pride is considered but it's a concern that his two best performances have come at Towcester. Enroblim Trop pulled up here on his penultimate start but ran well at other venues either side and hails from a yard in form unlike Young Dancer who was just run out of top spot by Wizard Of Edge at the start of December. Mage D'Estruval should come on for his Chepstow run, Joaaci and Mort De Rire have form in the book from long ago and blinkers may help the latter but we'll look to the Alners other runner. Pistol Desbois caught the eye once or twice during the course of his first season here, including when a well backed winner of a handicap hurdle at Chepstow. He was made favourite for a chase on his return but finished well beaten although he'd travelled well enough until making one serious mistake. He can't afford any errors here but appeals as being well enough handicapped to go close with a clear round and we'll take Pistol Desbois to hit the target.
Joaaci (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up, shaken up 11th, lost touch 12th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Pangbourne (11-3) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Borero (FR) 7-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, 4th and beaten when went right 3 out, 4th of 9, 12l behind Tricky Trickster (11-5) at Newbury 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Dec.
Adare Prince (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leader, always prominent, led approaching 12th, idled approaching 2 out, idled again well before last, driven out, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan beating Brumous (10-11) by 2l, 10 ran.
Young Dancer (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway approaching 12th, chased leaders 4 out, weakened 3 out, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Wizard of Edge (10-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Pistol Desbois (FR) 5-2jt-fav (10-12) Chased leaders, blundered badly 11th, ridden and every chance 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 6, 16l behind Buck The Legend (11-4) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Nov.
Mage d'Estruval (FR) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden when mistake 13th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 18, 18l behind Supreme Keano (11-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan.
Mort De Rire (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Behind, ridden and hit 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by The Sawyer (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan, 15 ran.
Wizard of Edge 7-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, struggling and lost place 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out pulled up 4 out in race won by Nicto De Beauchene (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
Elsie's Pride (IRE) 5-2fav (11-2) Prominent, lost place 9th, left 2nd 14th, no chance from approaching 2 out, 2nd of 7, well behind New Perk (10-0) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Nov.
Enroblim Trop (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) In touch, headway to lead 3 out, jumped left 2 out, went left, headed last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Maori Legend (11-5) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Wild Ground (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, pushed along after 12th, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Surface To Air (11-7) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in May, 12 ran.
Rash Moment (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden before 3 out, one pace, 4th of 15, 7l behind I'moncloudnine (11-10) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Dec.
