mid-division until weakened after 3 out
mid-division, headway after 3 out, one pace when hit next
led, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, rallied to lead soon after last, driven out
prominent and keen, mistake 6th, weakened quickly, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, weakened next
pulled hard in rear, headway to track leaders 3rd, weakened approaching 3 out
mid-division, ridden after 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on from last
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on from last
held up towards rear, ridden and some headway after 3 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, ridden to lead narrowly 2 out, mistake and headed soon after last, no extra
mid-division until 5th, soon behind
tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon ridden, mistake 2 out, kept on same pace
Haldbari has found one too good on each of his last two runs but Alan King's four-year-old looks the bet in this field and so he gets the nod ahead of Huguenot and Pterodactyl. The form of Haldibari's last run has been franked by the third scoring since and with further improvement to come, and receiving the weight-for-age allowance, a big run is expected on ground that he has shown he handles. There are several interesting flat recruits in the lineup, most notably Phillip Hobbs' Huguenot. This regally-bred gelding (formerly with David Wachman) has obviously had problems since he made his flat debut in 2005 but he is of interest nonetheless. Pterodactyl is a recruit from France who needs a market check on his British and hurdling debut, whilst Le Beau Bai cannot be ignored with the stable in red hot form and the drop in trip may suit this formerly decent bumper horse. At a price Dip Anchor could go well, however it is Haldibari who gets the nod.
Bull Market (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 28l behind Puy d'Arnac (11-3) at Catterick 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 40-1 (10-7) Mistake 1st, towards rear, not fluent 3rd, outpaced 3 out, 6th of 13, 35l behind Garrulous (11-0) at Taunton 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Nov.
Dip Anchor 50-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 5th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 9th of 17, 19l behind The Polomoche (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy.
Grand Sefton 150-1 (10-12) Held up, pulled hard, ridden, weakened 6th, tailed off and fell at the last in race won by Mexican Bob (11-8) at Taunton 2m 1f nov hdl (3) gd in Dec, 14 ran.
Grumpy Bee (IRE) 80-1 (10-7) Towards rear when fell at the 2nd in race won by Blue Bajan (11-5) at Doncaster 2m nov hdl (4) gs, 18 ran.
Huguenot (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Close up, dropped to 5th before straight, soon no impression under pressure and kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 12l behind Tenacious Greg (9-2) at Galway 1m 2yo mdn gf in Sept '05 (Flat).
Le Beau Bai (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Held up, ridden 6th, one pace, 8th of 14, 38l behind Superior Wisdom (11-5) at Folkestone 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy.
Mr Excel (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 3rd, weakened 3 out, 7th of 8, well behind Pouvoir (10-12) at Kempton 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) sft in Jan '07.
Pacha D'Oudairies (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened 4 out, 6th of 14, well behind Swordsman (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd in Nov.
Pterodactyl (IRE) (9-5) Prominent, every chance, no extra, 5th of 16, 2l behind The Devil (9-0) at Angers 1m 2f in Nov (Flat).
Ring Bo Ree (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Towards rear, headway after 6th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 13, 35l behind Edgeover (11-5) at Ludlow 2m nh mdn hdl (4) gs.
Synonymy 10-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, weakened 3 out, well behind when hit last, 4th of 6, 35l behind Supsonic (11-0) at Sandown 2m 3yo nov hdl (3) sft in Dec '06.
Haldibari (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Held up, steady headway 4th, ridden after 2 out, kept on, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Chapoturgeon (11-0) at Lingfield 2m 4yo mdn hdl (4) sft.
Norisan 5-6fav (9-5) Chased leaders, ridden 3f out, never able to challenge, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Russki (9-2) at Kempton 1m clm (6) pol in Sept (Flat).
