ACCORDING TO PETE is the pick with Ollie Magern and Carruthers worthy of inclusion upon any shortlist. Malcolm Jefferson's yard traditionally do well at this meeting and his improving eight year old should handle the surface adequately and is off a nice racing weight. Ollie Magern ran another fair race in the Charlie Hall. His chances hinge solely on an uncontested lead. Carruthers has had one or two well publicised issues in relation to fitness though he will need to win this in order to justify any lofty ambitions of end of season prizes. Jaunty Flight is an exciting mare to watch and if fit enough from absence, she should give another good account. Turpin Green would be a shoe in on old form though does not win that often. Pretty Star has been a fairly consistent sort for Venetia Williams and should not be far away. Morgan Be will be a big price though has each-way claims if this develops into an out and out slogfest. A very solid renewal of this contest and According To Pete looks progressive enough to take it.
Ollie Magern 85-40 (11-0) Led, ridden and hard pressed from 4 out, stayed on to go 2 lengths clear last, tired and headed final 75 yards, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Deep Purple (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Carruthers 9-1 (11-12) Prominent, mistake 1st, led 4th, headed approaching 7th, chased leaders 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 5th of 18, 16l behind Ellerslie George (10-2) at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov.
Ellerslie George (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Always prominent, led approaching 7th, clear before 10th, stayed on strongly, won at Wincanton 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov beating The Tother One (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 18 ran.
Jaunty Flight 3-1 (10-13) Held up, headway to lead 4 out, left 6 lengths clear next, stayed on well, easily, won at Perth 3m nov stks (2) gd in Apr beating Lodge Lane (11-3) by 22l, 6 ran.
Turpin Green (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, mistake 5th, staying on one pace when blundered last and soon weakened, 4th of 11, 13l behind Shining Gale (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Nov.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 12, 28l behind Calgary Bay (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd.
According To Pete 5-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, chased leader 16th, chased winner from 3 out, weakened and mistake 2 out, 5th of 12, 20l behind The Package (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f listed hcp chs (1) sft.
Gypsy George 6-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, pushed along approaching 12th, soon weakened, 5th of 10, well behind Mr Strachan (11-4) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Pretty Star (GER) 16-1 (11-9) Made most, ridden when pressed 3 out, driven approaching last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Any Currency (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Morgan Be 6-1 (11-12) Held up, hit 11th, not fluent next, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 9, well behind L'aventure (10-11) at Kelso 4m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft.
Zitenka (IRE) 16-1 (10-4) Held up on outside, fell 11th, in a race won by Beat The Boys (10-12) at Newcastle 3m listed hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 14 ran.
