mid-division, ridden 6th, soon weakened
mid-division, behind after 3rd, tailed off 5th, pulled up after 3 out
prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened quickly afterwards
towards rear, ridden 6th, weakened after 3 out
prominent, chased leader and effort after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
led until 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, mistake 5th, weakened 6th, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out, behind 2 out
towards rear, outpaced 6th, kept on from 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, kept on from 2 out
took keen hold, led after 6th, quickly clear on bit approaching 2 out, shaken up and hit last, pushed out
pulled early and held up behind, headway 4th, ridden behind leaders 3 out, stayed on to chase winner 2 out, kept on from last
Two ex-Michael Jarvis inmates, Princelet and Traprain, may hold the key to this, and it is the latter that gets the vote, with Megaton, Wee Dinns and Windyx others to note. Those that have already had a taste of timber-topping have not shown enough to catch the eye, and so this may well be dominated by the newcomers, and a tentative vote is given to Traprain. The son of Mark Of Esteem was twice successful on the level, including on his final start in handicap company at Nottingham in October, and given that he was rated 75, he makes slightly more appeal than the other ex-Jarvis inmate Princelet who by coincidence also scored on that same Nottingham card. That was a maiden, and as that was only his third ever start, he may well have a bright future in the colours of J P McManus. Megaton had just the two outings on the Flat in France and is another interesting debutante, while Lone Rider may be best of those to have raced so far, but he will definitely have to improve on what he showed at Haydock on his introduction to hurdling. Martin Pipe saddles two here, Windyx and Wee Dinns, the latter having plenty of experience in handicap company, but Windyx could be anything, having been successful twice in France for Andre Fabre. All in all, the best advice would be to closely follow the market for all concerned, but for the winner we return to Traprain.
Berkeley Court 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, under pressure 3f out, soon lost place, 7th of 11, 21l behind Deep Reflection (11-4) at Lingfield 2m nhf (H) pol in Dec.
Eudyptes 50-1 (10-12) Behind, tailed off from 4th, 8th of 9, well behind Beyondtherealm (10-7) at Chepstow 2m sll hdl (G) gs in Nov.
Financial Future 100-1 (11-2) Always behind, 14th of 22, well behind Straw Bear (11-5) at Leicester 2m nov hdl (3) sft.
Lone Rider (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up, headway approaching 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 9th of 15, 48l behind Circassian (11-0) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, behind from 7th, tailed off when blundered 2 out, 11th of 16, well behind Wogan (10-12) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs.
Megaton (8-4) 6th of 20, 4 1/2l behind Antioquia (8-10) at Longchamp 1m 1f hcp gd in Oct '04 (Flat).
Mr Tambourine Man (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened 5th, tailed off 3 out, 13th of 14, well behind Neveesou (11-4) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (D) gd in Dec.
The Stafford (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Keen hold, held up in rear, hit 5th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Dearson (10-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f nov hdl (E) sft in Dec, 14 ran.
Windyx (FR) (8-12) Held up, ran on to lead final furlong, won at Maisons-Laffitte 1m 5f stk gd in Jul '04 beating Jan Affrica (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran (Flat).
Post It 100-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 13, 42l behind Harringay (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gd.
Wee Dinns (IRE) 13-2 (9-4) Held up in mid-division, effort 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 16, 9l behind Vamp (9-1) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct (Flat).
Before Time 100-1 (10-5) Chased leaders to 4th, weakened under pressure next, 11th of 16, well behind Restless D'artaix (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3yo nov hdl (E) gs in Dec.
Princelet (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Soon led, headed after 2f, remained in touch, driven to regain lead over 2f out, ran on final furlong, easily, won at Nottingham 1m 2f mdn stk (5) gd in Oct beating Top Man Tee (9-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran (Flat).
Traprain (IRE) 16-1 (8-7) Steadied start, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Nottingham 1m 2f hcp 0-80 (4) gd in Oct beating Folio (8-5) by a nk, 16 ran (Flat).
