held up, good headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace
tracked leader and keen, not fluent 1st, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
held up, headway 7th, led approaching 2 out, headed last, kept on to lead again flat
tracked leaders, weakened after 7th
held up, reminders 3rd, soon pushed along, some late progress
tracked leaders, weakened after 3 out
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, kept on and one pace from last
held up, headway 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, headway 3 out to chase leader, led approaching last, mistake and headed soon after
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
mid-division, ridden 7th, soon beaten
mid-division, ridden 6th, weakened quickly and pulled up before 8th
held up in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
always in rear
led and jumped slightly left throughout, ridden when headed approaching 2 out, faded
A number of recent winners on view and we will side with ISAAC NEWTON to land the contest with Canndar and Thai Vango served up as the alternatives. Isaac Newton is only modest but as such the handicapper doesn't have a lot of ammunition to hit him with on account of his form obtaining in low grade events. The McCain yard have attempted a couple of gambles of late and today could be no exception. Canndar is still a maiden. That said, he was unfortunate to run up against a well handicapped sort last time out and he won't always be so unlucky. Nigel Twiston-Davies can have them ready from absence so Perth bumper scorer, Thai Vango, is likely to be popular in the ring. Arctic Shadow has to give weight all around. A winner of back to back races at the end of last season, overnight rain would not harm his chances. Native City ran creditably at Bangor over chase fences but returns quickly back to the smaller obstacles. Castlemainevillage had been kept to plating events last Spring though was far from disgraced on the step up into this company. Pelennor makes a British debut having dotted up on his last start in France. Plenty of obvious sorts here and Isaac Newton is the tentative recommendation.
Arctic Shadow 7-2jt-fav (11-6) Held up, steady headway after 8th, ridden to lead 3 out, soon clear, won at Southwell 3m cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gs in Apr beating History Master (11-7) by 4l, 11 ran.
Pelennor (FR) (10-3) Front rank, led 3 out, went clear, easily, won at La Roche 2m 1f chs gd in May beating Unknown 2nd (10-3) by 10l, 5 ran.
Napolito (FR) 9-1 (11-5) Held up, hampered 3rd, headway when mistake 8th, weakened after 3 out, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Just Jaffa (11-9) at Towcester 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Native City (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up, ridden and headway after 12th, led approaching 3 out, headed last, eased when beaten flat, 2nd of 13, 12l behind Cebonne (11-4) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Sept.
Private Garcia (IRE) 40-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden and weakened 9th, 5th of 13, 41l behind Ogee (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in Sept.
Isaac Newton (IRE) 5-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, ridden to go 2nd next, led narrowly 3 out, headed next, kept on same pace under pressure flat, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Golden Snoopy (9-9) at Wetherby 2m 3f nov hcp hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Thai Vango (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Held up, ridden 3 out, one pace from next, 4th of 10, 17l behind Mendo (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f cnd nov hdl (4) sft in Mar '07.
Castlemainevillage (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Chased leader and keen, lost place 8th, rallied 2 out, hung left and went 2nd last, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Apollo Creed (11-6) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Prince Emmanuel (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 7th, led 8th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 18, well behind Creinch (11-12) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Apr.
Smarties Party 7-1 (11-2) Held up, some headway 4 out, weakened after next, 7th of 13, 15l behind Flemish Invader (11-11) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Sept.
Cresswell Ruby (IRE) 16-1 (10-2) Prominent, ridden and weakened 8th, 5th of 12, 27l behind Phone In (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sept.
Canndar (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, chased winner approaching last, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 15, 1 1/2l behind Alfadora (10-10) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Sept.
Deramore Rythm (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, in touch when mistake 2 out, one pace when hampered after last, 4th of 14, 35l behind Supreme Being (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gf in Sept.
Covey (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakening when fell 2 out in race won by Wujood (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Sept, 15 ran.
Sir Leonard (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, prominent, steadied approaching 2nd, ridden and beaten 3 out, 8th of 11, 29l behind Great Endeavour (10-13) at Southwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sept.
Jimmy Bedney (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) A bhnd; t.o, 7th of 11, well behind Red Buttons (12-0) at Bonvilston 3m ptp gd in Jun.
