tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching next, pulled up before last
tracked leaders, chased winner from 12th, in 2nd and held when blundered 2 out, soon weakened
held up, pushed along 9th, ridden 11th, headway 5 out, outpaced from next
held up, hit 8th, pushed along next, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out, chased winner approaching last until soon after, one pace
led to 12th, ridden 5 out, soon weakened
held up, effort and steady headway 4 out, chased winner after last, no impression
tracked leader, led 12th, clear 3 out, easily
behind, pushed along after 9th, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out
The Reverend can give Howard Johnson another winner, with Supreme's Legacy and Nine De Sivola seen as the main dangers. Howard Johnson's team of jumpers are starting to hit form now, and after a promising second at Hexham last time, The Reverend will be strongly fancied to go one better. The trip and ground should both be to his advantage, and the six-year-old should take this before going on to better things. Supreme's Legacy was a real stayer over hurdles, paying his way on more than one occasion, and is sure to have been well schooled, but Keith Reveley's charge will probably need the run. Nine De Sivola has to improve markedly to turn Hexham form around with the selection, while Blackergreen is expected to run well, but is another that will come on for the experience. All in all, The Reverend, with that promising effort at Hexham to call on, is the pick.
Baron Monty (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Held up, headway 9th, lost place 11th and pulled up at the 13th in race won by Model Son (11-1) at Carlisle 3m nov chs (C) hvy in Oct '05, 10 ran.
Blackergreen 5-2 (11-6) Tracked leader, driven, outpaced 3 out, ridden next, rallied to chase winner flat, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Aces Four (11-6) at Perth 3m nh nov hdl (3) gf in Apr.
Gritti Palace (IRE) 40-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out, 10th of 16, 37l behind Desert Tommy (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Oct.
Lenny 40-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, weakened approaching 12th, 8th of 12, 34l behind Mr Pointment (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd.
Russian Sky 7-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, joined leader 10th, blundered next, soon weakened, 4th of 8, well behind Datito (10-0) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Supreme's Legacy (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division, headway 7th, left in lead next, ridden when hit 2 out, hit last, edged left run-in, driven out, won at Bangor 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Triple Mint (11-6) by 1l, 13 ran.
The Reverend (IRE) 11-4 (11-0) Held up, headway 13th, left in lead 3 out, headed run-in, no extra, 2nd of 6, 3l behind One Sniff (11-0) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs.
Nine De Sivola (FR) 9-4 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden 5 out, soon outpaced, left 3rd 3 out, 3rd of 6, well behind One Sniff (11-0) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) gs.
