always behind, hit 2nd, hampered 6th, pushed along approaching 8th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
in touch, weakened from 12th, tailed off from 4 out
held up, jumped slowly 4th, hit next, weakened from 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
led to 6th, weakened approaching 3 out
with leader, led 6th, driven out
tracked leaders when fell 6th
in rear, unseated rider 6th
held up in mid-division, headway to track leaders 8th, mistake 5 out, one pace from 3 out
held up, hit 1st, hit 5 out, headway to chase leaders next, one pace from 3 out
mid-division, chased leaders 9th, chased winner approaching 5 out, ridden and about two and a half lengths down when blundered last, one pace
A competitive hunter chase gets proceedings underway and the principals look to be Mister Friday, The Butterwick Kid and Red Striker and the confident vote is given to Mister Friday. The selection won well between the flags on his first run of the season. Has won over course and distance in the past and under conditions that suit he will be hard to beat. The Butterwick Kid rates the main danger as he is also in form and he is sure to run his race but his best efforts of late have come with more cut in the ground and for that reason he is opposed. Red Striker would be a danger to all on his best form of a couple of seasons ago and although he was disappointing last season this is easier and he should be noted in the market. Marrasit is another dropping in grade and he has definite place claims but he may just need the run after a 260 day absence. Of the remainder Gatsby is another that could go well but his best form of late is over a slightly longer trip and with this in mind for the winner we return to Mister Friday who gets the confident vote.
Camp Hill 20-1 (10-0) Led, headed approaching 11th, weakened 13th, behind then pulled up 4 out in race won by Direct Access (11-12) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Dec '04, 6 ran.
Donnybrook (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along halfway, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 47l behind Swiftway (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hts chs (H) gd in May.
Mister Friday (IRE) 5-2fav (12-3) Held up in rear, headway to track leaders from 12th, led 18th, clear 2 out, ridden and ran on well flat, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (H) gd in Apr beating Mullensgrove (11-7) by 2l, 9 ran.
The Butterwick Kid 11-4fav (11-11) Made all, jumped well, ridden 4 out, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 2m 7f hts chs (H) gd in May beating Imps Way (11-8) by 1l, 7 ran.
Denvale (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Mistakes, chased leaders, lost place approaching 13th, well behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Lord Beau (11-7) at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (H) gd in May, 16 ran.
Gatsby (IRE) 2-1 (12-7) 2nd of 12, 12l behind Deep Pockets (12-0) at Point To Point 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Raiseapearl 5-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, not fluent 6th, headway after 11th, led 13th, clear when not fluent 4 out, mistake 3 out, not fluent last, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hts chs (H) gd in May beating Montys Tag (11-5) by 12l, 6 ran.
Knife Edge (USA) 200-1 (11-10) Led, headed approaching 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Inglis Drever (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (A) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Red Striker 66-1 (11-0) Mistakes, soon behind, last of 8, well behind Le Roi Miguel (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (A) gs in Nov '04.
Marrasit (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led 14th, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on flat, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Lord Beau (11-7) at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (H) gd in May.
