in touch, chased winner 14th, ridden 4 out, stayed on towards finish
behind, headway 13th, ridden next, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up, mistake 9th and 10th, ridden 14th and weakened
prominent, led 8th to 12th, weakened 14th
well behind from 13th, kept on from 2 out, never dangerous
held up, headway 11th, ridden after 13th, soon weakened
mid-division, headway approaching 14th, ridden 16th, weakened 2 out
led to 3rd, chased leaders, ridden 10th, outpaced 17th, kept on flat
mistakes, prominent, led 3rd to 8th, led again 12th, ridden 3 out, stayed on gamely
Three horses head the weights, Ballybrophy, Pettree and Regal River, the last-named trained by John Upson, responsible for last year's winner Over Zealous. Ballybrophy is lightly-raced and has not run for 727 days but showed he had ability when winning over hurdles at Huntingdon (3m2f) the year before, a performance that earned him a rating of 99 for his handicap debut over hurdles. Pettree, a course winner, is rated only a pound higher than for his course win over two-and-a-half miles in November 2001. The handicapper has started to relent with him now and he is entitled to go well, even though he is unproven at this trip over fences (stayed three miles well over hurdles). Connections tried him in blinkers last time. Regal River comes here on the back of a Leicester win, for which he has been raised seven pounds. Lightly raced, he can progress again and has a decent amateur reducing his weight by seven pounds. Charming Admiral won at Catterick in December, but, running from a three-pound higher mark here, does not look badly handicapped despite disappointing last time. Bally Lira (who is currently up for sale) won over this course and distance two years ago from a mark of 90 (now 92 but has won from a mark of 98) and clearly holds chances at his best. Plumpton specialist Our Jolly Swagman is entitled to be competitive off a mark of 90, from which he has won, but all his wins have come at the Sussex track. Auburn Spirit has won from a mark of 78 (now 82 but good rider claims five pounds). His Plumpton second to Time To Parlez (who meets on the same terms today, excluding riders allowances) last time should have restored his confidence after a couple of modest runs and the pair should again, on the form book, finish close together. Spilaw won an amateur chase at Folkestone 18 months ago from his current mark, while Basil (racing from out of the handicap) and the lightly-raced Follow The Flow would be hard to confidently select. A competitive event on testing going but Regal River is taken to follow up his Leicester win.
