held up last, headway approaching 4 out, ridden and chased leader approaching 3 out, ran on well to lead after 2 out, hard ridden and idled run-in, just held on
held up towards rear, headway 10th, every chance 4 out, 3rd and held when tried to refuse and ran out 2 out
chased leader, led after 1st to 4th, weakened approaching 10th, pulled up after 11th
prominent, led after 8th, headed 5 out, ridden and weakened 4 out, left poor 3rd 2 out
led to 1st, led 4th, mistake 6th, headed 8th, weakened 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, weakened 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
held up in touch, headway to chase leader 8th, every chance when pecked 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, mistake 10th, pulled up before 11th
held up in mid-division, weakened 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leader, headway and led after 5 out, mistake and headed 2 out, rallied and ran on well flat, just failed
In a tricky race, we will opt for Paxford Jack, but among others to consider are Almost Broke, Hiers de Brouage and Saucy Night. Almost Broke won from a 10lb-lower mark at Chepstow two runs ago, but had his colours lowered here last time although that was over a longer trip. Burwood Breeze is very consistent, even though he has been raised two pounds for getting beaten last time. Jardin de Beaulieu remains five pounds above the mark from which he won last January. Paxford Jack is now two pounds below a winning mark, something that certainly means he has to looked at here. Saffron Sun is actually six pounds below a winning rating but, as you can imagine, recent efforts are not so good. Course and distance winner Hiers de Brouage is only four pounds above a winning mark, while Giacomo has disappointed since a very promising novice season in 2003. Gotham has yet to transfer promising hurdling form to fences, and Barton May and Saucy Night have to improve on their bare form so far, but they are both winners and the latter could well show up today in this race. In what is not a straightforward race to assess, a narrow vote goes to Paxford Jack.
Almost Broke 9-4fav Held up last, mistake 10th, some headway 14th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 33l behind Bathwick Annie at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (C) sft in Jan.
Burwood Breeze (IRE) 9-4fav Held up in touch, chased leaders 7th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance approaching last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 8, 1l behind King Of The Arctic at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft in Jan.
Jardin de Beaulieu (FR) 8-1 Led, hit 7th and 8th, headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 31l behind Benrajah at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Nov.
Paxford Jack 14-1 Chased leaders, jumped left 3rd, weakened 14th, 4th of 10, 30l behind Indalo at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft.
Saffron Sun 11-1 Held up in touch, weakened 11th, no impression, 9th of 10, well behind Tribal King at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Dec.
Hiers de Brouage (FR) 16-1 Chased leader, ridden and weakened 13th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Rathbawn Prince at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (D) sft in Jan, 7 ran.
Giocomo (IRE) 5-1 Behind, lost touch 10th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out in race won by Banker Count at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs, 8 ran.
Gotham (IRE) 8-1 Chased leaders, not fluent 7th, weakened and behind from 4 out, 6th of 7, 39l behind Schuh Shine at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Jan.
Barton May 9-2 Held up, struggling after 7th, 5th of 9, 35l behind Shaadiva at Market Rasen 2m 4f mrs nov chs (D) gd.
Saucy Night 11-8fav Chased leader, led 10th, pushed clear 3 out, jumped left 2 out, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (F) gs beating Just Muckin Around by 9l, 10 ran.
