chased leader, ridden and weakened 6th, pulled up before 8th
mid-division, ridden 3 out, kept on at one pace to go 3rd 2 out
held up in touch, headway on bit 3 out, soon chased leader, ridden and found nothing approaching 2 out
held up last, steady headway from 7th, ridden and every chance last, no extra flat
held up in touch, ridden 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, some headway from 3 out, never on terms
prominent, ridden and weakened 8th, pulled up before last
made all, ridden and quickened clear approaching 2 out, joined last, hard driven, ran on gamely flat
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 3 out
in touch, ridden 6th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up last, good headway after 5th, mistake 7th, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace
always towards rear, no impression
mid-division, ridden 5th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
A tough one to call, and only the most tentative of nominations goes to Ben's Turn, whose yard is flying at present, and she gets the nod before Abragante and the improving Busy Isit. Others to note in the betting include: Celtic Major - an in-form course and distance winner that should handle the ground, Buster Collins, who reverts to hurdles at a realistic level, and Catchthebug, who has been given a chance by the handicapper and will be popular for being the mount of Tony McCoy alone. Busy Isit has answered every question asked of him so far and is obviously on the upgrade. This is his stiffest test to date though and it remains to be seen how he will handle the hustle and bustle of this large field of experienced hurdles. Abragante made hay off a light weight to win all of his completed starts this season. He will be hard to beat at this level and is worth a saver option if the prices permit. However, preference is given to Ben's Turn, who will love the ground and, as her record of five wins from seven starts suggests, they will all have to be at their best to overhaul her today.
Buster Collins (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up, headway 10th, weakened 12th, beaten when fell 5 out in race won by Charlies Future (10-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Ben's Turn (IRE) 9-4fav (10-0) Tracked leader to 6th, hard ridden to chase leaders approaching 2 out, 3rd and held when blundered last, 4th of 6, 7l behind Refinement (11-12) at Kempton 3m mrs hcp hdl (2) gs in Dec.
Busy Isit 11-2 (11-6) In touch, led 4 out, clear last, idled run-in, won at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gs beating Marvellous Dream (10-13) by 1l, 12 ran.
Abragante (IRE) 6-4fav (11-8) Held up, headway 11th, joined leader approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, shaken up flat, readily, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Dec beating Yann's (10-8) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Lease Back (FR) 9-2fav (10-1) Prominent, weakened 13th pulled up at the 14th in race won by Gunther McBride (11-8) at Exeter 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb, 12 ran.
Macmar (FR) 14-1 (11-7) Close up, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace from next, 8th of 17, 18l behind Mikado (11-8) at Ascot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Irish Legend (IRE) 13-2 (10-13) Held up, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 5th of 8, 14l behind Overserved (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) hvy in Nov '05.
Secret Pact (IRE) 50-1 (9-9) In touch until reminders and lost place 5th, tailed off, 9th of 13, well behind Maharbal (10-5) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Celtic Major (IRE) 50-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led after 8th, hard pressed from 2 out, kept on gamely, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft beating Canopus (10-12) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Joli Classical (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Chased leader, ridden 3 out, outpaced 2 out, rallied from last, ran on and took 2nd close home, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Lunar Eclipse (9-11) at Exeter 2m 1f mrs hcp hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Port Of Mogan (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Behind, struggling badly approaching 4th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Tora Petcha (11-2) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Dec, 16 ran.
Ingres 20-1 (10-1) Towards rear, headway 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 17, 31l behind The Real Deal (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Ceoperk (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden, weakening when hampered 3 out, 7th of 11, 31l behind Master Mahogany (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
See More Jock 25-1 (10-5) Chased leader, ridden, weakened 3 out, soon tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Saltango (11-8) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Mar.
Methodical 12-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, every chance next, weakened flat, 4th of 13, 12l behind Alfasonic (11-2) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) hvy.
Catchthebug (IRE) 12-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, carried left on bend after 8th, headway next, weakened approaching last, 5th of 15, 18l behind Before Dark (11-0) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
