in touch, ridden to chase winner 3 out, weakened 2 out
towards rear, headway 9th, slow jump and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, jumped right 5th, ridden 7th, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, ridden 10th, plugged on well to take 2nd last
made all, clear 2 out, ran on
tracked leaders, blundered 11th, weakened 3 out
prominent, ridden 5th and lost place, behind and tired when fell heavily 2 out
towards rear, headway 6th, ridden 12th, soon weakened and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden 12th, stayed on to chase winner approaching last, weakened flat
held up, mistake 5th, stayed on from 3 out, not reach leaders
in touch, ridden 9th, behind when mistake 13th, pulled up before next
mid-division, headway approaching 5th, ridden 11th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, not jump well, lost touch 6th
Nonrunner
Randolph O'Brien gets the confident vote here with Lucky Luk and Manx Royal rating the main dangers. The selection won with plenty in hand after a long absence when beating Explosive Fox. He looks sure to improve again for this longer trip and under similar conditions he is hard to oppose. Lucky Luk rates the main danger as he beat Carriage Ride when last seen but he may just need the run after a 400 day break and his best form is over a longer trip. Manx Royal has dropped to a handy mark but has shown little of late so cannot be put forward with any confidence. Test of Friendship breaks blood vessels but could go well fresh. Strolling Vagabond is better on a softer surface. Of the remainder Deep Pockets was a fair pointer but looks to have plenty of weight and with this in mind for the winner we return to Randolph O'Brien who is taken to win this before going on to better things.
Randolph O'Brien (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, went 2nd after 3 out, led after 2 out, stayed on, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct beating Explosive Fox (11-0) by 4l, 13 ran.
Manx Royal (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, ridden and short-lived effort approaching 4 out, soon beaten, 6th of 11, 15l behind Alcatras (10-7) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 11-2jt-fav (12-4) In touch, soon driven along, ridden 10th, weakened 13th, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Vinnie Boy (12-0) at Towcester 3m hts chs (3) gs in May '06, 16 ran.
Malko de Beaumont (FR) 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leader, led 7th to 9th, blundered 4 out, outpaced next, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 32l behind Jim Edwards (10-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sept.
Arnold Layne (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Close 2nd until 7th, not fluent 13th, dropped to last approaching 15th, weakening when hit 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind That Look (10-11) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Abraham Smith 6-1 (11-11) Held up, ridden 9th, stayed on from 2 out, nearest finish, 4th of 10, 23l behind Highland Chief (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Oct.
Pukka Tique 8-1 (10-7) Prominent, chased leader 9th, ridden after 10th, weakened approaching 13th, 3rd of 7, 28l behind Willyanwoody (11-4) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (3) gf in Oct.
Lucky Luk (FR) 4-1fav (10-12) Held up, headway 7th, mistake 12th, ridden to lead after 3 out, soon clear, ran on well, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Oct '06 beating Carriage Ride (11-2) by 22l, 12 ran.
Tradingup (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (10-8) In touch, headway 10th, ridden after 13th, kept on same pace from next, 4th of 9, 9l behind Nagam (10-13) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Mar.
Casalani (IRE) 7-1 (10-3) In rear, reminders approaching 11th, kept on from 3 out, no impression, 4th of 10, 9l behind Sharp Jack (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in May.
Strolling Vagabond (IRE) 7-2fav (10-6) Led until 7th, prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, led 2 out, narrowly headed last, rallied, led final stride, won at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar beating Shaka's Pearl (10-7) by a shd, 8 ran.
Gunship (IRE) 2-1jt-fav (11-6) Tried to lead, chased winner, blundered and almost unseated rider 2nd, lost 2nd at 4th, sulked and never going well after, pulled up 10th pulled up 5 out in race won by Ballyaahbutt (10-6) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Ma.
Happy Hussar (IRE) 100-1 (9-7) Behind until unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Mister Apple's (9-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct, 14 ran.
Test of Friendship 16-1 (10-13) Made virtually all, ridden approaching last, stayed on, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May '06 beating Paddy The Optimist (9-13) by 1l, 17 ran.
