held up mistake 1st, always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, hit 8th, ridden 4 out, led last, driven out
in touch, ridden after 8th, weakened quickly, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, mistake 1st, headway to lead after 3rd, headed 4 out, weakened 3 out
led, headed after 3rd, outpaced 9th, no danger after
chased leaders 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
with leaders, blundered 9th, led 4 out, ridden when headed last, no extra
in touch, pushed along after 5th, weakened 7th, tailed off when pulled up after 8th
Last month's Fontwell winner Miss Wizadora struggled on a return visit to the venue last time and is difficult to recommend with any confidence on that evidence so a chance is taken at more favourable odds on Chaos Theory, who is preferred to River Mere. The last mentioned has slipped to a fair mark and showed signs of a revival at Huntingdon last time so has to be respected off his lightweight. Tom George's Mandica is less exposed than most of these and is interesting dropping back in trip; he makes more appeal than Tim Easterby's Stone Cold, who needs to improve on his reappearance effort at Market Rasen to trouble the judge. The 11-year-old Papua has a good record here and is impossible to ignore although recent form is of concern and preference is for the year younger Chaos Theory. Formerly with Mary Reveley, the son of Jupiter Island has been point-to-pointing with some success of late and made a satisfactory return to rules racing when fourth behind Monty's Quest in a Kelso hunter chase recently. The trip that day would have stretched his stamina and back in distance today Richard Guest's gelding looks worth a punt.
Magic of Sydney (IRE) 25-1 Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, lead 10th to 14th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 14, 39l behind Desailly at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Dec '03.
Mandica (IRE) 11-2 In touch, chased leaders 8th, went 2nd 14th, lost place 4 out, went 2nd again 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 22l behind Change Agent at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Mar.
Stone Cold 7-1 With leader, led 4th, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace from next, 4th of 9, 8l behind Jaffa at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd.
Chaos Theory 9-2 Mid-division, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 4th of 11, 33l behind Monty's Quest at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (H) gs.
Armageddon 9-1 Chased leaders, led after 3rd, headed 13th, in 3rd and weakening when blundered 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Dickens at Bangor 3m beg chs (E) sft, 7 ran.
River Mere 9-2 Tracked leader, slow 6th, joined leader 13th, mistake 3 out, led 2 out and mistake, ridden and headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Just Jolly at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd in Oct.
Miss Wizadora 5-2fav In touch, ridden 11th, weakened 12th, left remote 2 out, 2nd of 7, well behind Kappelhoff at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (F) sft in Mar.
Coastguard (IRE) 50-1 Chased leaders until reminders approaching 5th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Assumetheposition at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (F) hvy in Feb, 15 ran.
Papua 25-1 Chased leader, headway and led 9th, ridden after 4 out, hard ridden and headed 3 out, not quicken, 4th of 13, 5l behind Red Society at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf.
Dangerousdanmagru (IRE) 20-1 In touch when stumbled and fell in race won by Joes Edge at Aintree 2m 4f amt nov hcp chs (B) gs, 10 ran.
Khaladjistan (IRE) 11-2 Led, headed approaching 8th and hit 8th, ridden approaching 5 out, kept on, no impression from next, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Lanmire Tower at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Mar.