in touch, went 2nd after 10th, ridden to lead 2 out, headed last, rallied and stayed on strongly under pressure, just failed
held up in rear, headway 14th, chased leaders 16th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on well towards finish
prominent, led after 5th, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on same pace
prominent, pulled up quickly before 14th
led until after 3rd, in touch, led last, just held on
held up mid-division, headway approaching 14th, soon chasing leaders, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 15th, chased leaders next, weakened 2 out
soon prominent, led after 3rd, headed after 5th, remained prominent, not fluent 10th, ridden before 14th, soon lost placed
held up, never dangerous
tracked leaders, ridden after 13th, soon lost place
in touch, slipped on bend after 10th, remained prominent, weakened before 15th
held up towards rear, reminders 11th, headway before 14th, lost place 16th
Nonrunner
Present M'lord, Mistress Nell and Phareight Dei make most appeal in this handicap chase and the nomination is given to Present M'lord. The selection was probably in need of the run when second behind Try at Uttoxeter last time, but that was still a good effort and with his race fitness now assured he can go one better. Mistress Nell has not been out since February when she chased home Monteforte. However, she is a thorough stayer who will get every yard of this trip, so if she is fit enough to do herself justice then she could be a serious player. Phareight Dei has got some respectable form but he is making his seasonal reappearance today and as both of his career wins have come on heavy ground, he is probably best watched. Test Of Friendship is a capable stayer on his day and he should not be dismissed lightly, but this looks a good opportunity for Present M'lord who gets the vote.
Mistress Nell 13-8fav (10-5) In touch, ridden 4 out, lost place, effort 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Monteforte (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Lucky Luk (FR) 9-2co-fav (11-1) Towards rear, headway 6th, ridden 12th, soon weakened and pulled up 2 out in race won by Arnold Layne (11-6) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 13 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.
Paddy The Optimist (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace before next, 3rd of 8, 8l behind Dun Drinan (11-5) at Warwick 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
Present M'lord (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Mid-division, headway 8th, reminder after 11th, ridden after 13th, chased winner after 3 out, held from last, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Try (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Oct.
Montanel (FR) 40-1 (10-13) In rear, headway 9th, weakening when unseated rider 2 out in race won by Henry's Pride (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Oct, 11 ran.
Ballyfin (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Mid-division, blundered 2nd, headway 8th, led 2 out, mistake and headed last, no extra, 3rd of 10, 10l behind Up The Pub (10-12) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct '06.
Phareight Dei (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Mid-division, took closer order 10th, ridden to chase leader 3 out, led last, edged right flat, all out, won at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) hvy in Feb beating Hercules Morse (11-7) by 2l, 8 ran.
Winding River (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Chased leaders until weakened after 10th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Arceye (10-1) at Chepstow 2m 3f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd, 11 ran.
Pure Brief (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Handy, led 12th to 14th, led again 3 out, slipped on bend approaching 2 out, headed last, one pace, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Dun Drinan (11-5) at Warwick 3m 2f cnd hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
Change Agent 20-1 (11-0) In touch, mistake 13th, weakened 5 out, blundered 4 out, 3rd of 16, 32l behind Gumley Gale (11-8) at Chepstow 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gs in Oct.
Valley Warrior 12-1 (10-11) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 14th in race won by Try (10-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Oct, 10 ran.
Precious Bane (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, driven and lost place 10th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Westfield Dancer (12-3) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Jun, 14 ran.
River of Light (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, reminders 14th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 14, 50l behind Kilbeggan Blade (11-7) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
The General Lee (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader 3 out, staying on when mistake 2 out, led approaching last, kept on, won at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl (5) frm beating Fox 'n' Goose (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
San Luca (IRE) 100-1 (10-6) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching next and pulled up 2 out in race won by Hennessy (10-13) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs in May, 15 ran.
