in rear, headway 4 out, effort when hampered and stumbled badly after 3 out, soon beaten
soon tracking leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace, no impression
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 4 out
tracked leaders, took close order 5th, ridden and weakened from 3 out
in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and stayed on from next, took 3rd run-in
held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace and no chance with winner
held up towards rear, pushed along 4th, weakened next
held up, good headway to lead 5th, headed next, led on bit 3 out, shaken up to go clear run-in, easily
held up in touch, weakened from 4 out
led to 5th, tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, weakened after 3 out
tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed next, soon beaten
An interesting little handicap where Town Crier, Honest Endeavour, Adopted Hero, Kentucky Blue and Dhehdaah are all short list material, and we will take Town Crier to score. Sue Smith's gelding is potentially very well handicapped now back over hurdles, where he runs from a mark of 116, compared to his latest chase rating of 137 recorded when beating the very useful Made In Japan at Newbury last time. Two miles and soft ground suits the 11-year-old and he is taken to confirm that with a win here. Honest Endeavour flopped on his only attempt on genuine soft ground thus far and that is a worry for those considering backing him. However, he won convincingly from decent yardstick Haditovski at Leicester last time on good to soft, so he is not written off. Adopted Hero is 1lb higher than when finishing runner up over course and distance here in November and with that in mind, plus a poor effort last time he s passed over today. Kentucky Blue has conditions to suit but hasn't won for almost two years and keeps rising in the weights without winning, so we will look elsewhere, while Dhehdaah looks a better option. He runs off the same mark as when runner-up at Haydock last time and handles track, trip and ground well, so he could go close, but Town Crier looks ahead of the handicapper over hurdles and we take him to land this prize.
Adopted Hero (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up in mid-division, weakened and eased 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Verasi (10-13) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (A) hvy in Dec, 19 ran.
Kentucky Blue (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) In touch, chased leader after 4 out, led next, ridden and challenged last, headed towards finish, no extra, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Bob Justice (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (C) hvy in Dec.
Jake Black (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden 5th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 11, 18l behind Motorway (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Albany (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Held up, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, well behind Lazy But Lively (9-9) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl (B) sft in Nov '04.
Woody Valentine (USA) 14-1 (10-11) In touch, driven to chase leaders approaching 2 out, weakened well before last, 4th of 11, 11l behind Motorway (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (C) gs in Dec.
Chef de Cour (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden and effort next, one pace from 2 out, 6th of 12, 11l behind Desert Quest (10-3) at Doncaster 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Dec.
Mister Arjay (USA) 16-1 (11-7) Prominent early, soon mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 10th of 15, 28l behind Down's Folly (10-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gf in Dec.
Town Crier (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Always prominent, hit 5th, challenged approaching 4 out, led going well approaching 2 out, shaken up flat, readily, won at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd in Nov beating Made In Japan (11-6) by 2 1/2l, 14 ran.
Honest Endeavour 25-1 (10-11) Led 2nd, ridden approaching last, ran on, won at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Nov beating Haditovski (10-8) by 7l, 10 ran.
Dhehdaah 5-2fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway 4th, led after 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 19, 2 1/2l behind Border Castle (10-12) at Haydock 2m nov hdl (D) sft in Dec.
Stormy Lord (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Led to 4th, weakened from 5 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Provocative (11-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Oct, 10 ran.
Haditovski 9-2 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden after 3 out, kept on to go 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Honest Endeavour (10-11) at Leicester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gs in Nov.
