prominent, led 2nd, hit 1st, ridden when hit 2 out, headed and not fluent last, one pace
mid-division, pushed along after 5th, weakened 7th
keen, led to 2nd, prominent to 7th, soon weakened
keen, in touch, ridden approaching 2out, led last, stayed on
always towards rear
chased leaders, went 2nd 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace flat
always behind
held up and pulled hard, ridden and headway 3 out, weakened 2 out
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened
Kristiansand, Weet A Head and Full As A Rocket are the three to catch the eye and Kristiansand is the selection. Full As A Rocket showed some ability in bumper races two years ago but has not been seen over jumps since. However, he has run on the Flat and has shown signs of ability and in a race like this he must have a chance. Kristiansand comes fit from a Flat campaign and ran creditably at Kelso last time in a similar contest. He may just be a little sharper than his rivals. Weet A Head won a similar race at the track two outings ago but was a disappointment at Stratford next time. Kristiansand can take this.
Kristiansand 9-2 (10-12) Led, ridden approaching last, headed and no extra run-in, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Taras Knight (10-12) at Kelso 2m nov sll hdl (5) gd.
Weet A Head (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Held up, headway before 2 out, never nearer, 4th of 13, 10l behind Shingle Street (11-8) at Stratford 2m sll hdl (4) sft in Oct.
Class King (USA) (9-11) Fell behind Ballez (10-3) at Enghien 2m 1f 100y hdl in Sept.
Full As A Rocket (IRE) 3-1 (9-12) With leader, shaken up to lead over 3f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Seymar Lad (11-4) at Wetherby 2m nhf (H) gs in Feb '05.
Dawn At Sea 28-1 (10-10) Held up rear, hampered approaching 3rd, headway next, weakened 3 out and eased when beaten, 11th of 15, 45l behind Little Venus (10-10) at Towcester 2m mrs nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Mescalera (GER) 33-1 (10-2) Mid-division, headway 5th, weakened after 3 out, 11th of 16, 25l behind Scarlet Mix (10-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Pont Neuf (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 15, 18l behind Taras Knight (10-12) at Kelso 2m nov sll hdl (5) gd.
Ice Lad (NZ) 22-1 (10-12) In rear and keen, headway 9th, soon ridden and pulled up 3 out in race won by Asudo (10-12) at Towcester 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Oct, 12 ran.