in touch, headway to lead 4 out, ridden and headed after 3 out, kept on same pace
prominent, led 8th until 4th out, soon weakened
held up, headway 6th to track leaders, pressed leader from 13th, led after 3 out, kept on well
in touch until 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
tailed off from 7th
jumped left, led, hit 5th and 7th, headed 8th, mistake 10th, ridden after 12th, soon weakened
chased leaders until 8th, behind from 10th, took poor 4th close home
in touch until 9th, soon behind, tailed off
Our shortlisted four are Ede'Iff, Bill Owen, Twofivesforaten, Penthouse Minstrel and Lanmire Tower, with the vote going to Bill Owen. The selection came good for today's rider in first-time blinkers last time, jumping well in the process. He can build on that here although he is now 17 pounds worse off with Ede'Iff for six lengths based on two-mile form here in October. That, of course, gives the latter's supporters genuine hope too. Twofivesforaten has been raised ten pounds for his Uttoxeter win but, given that he won well there, holds definite possibilities today. Lanmire Tower has proven fairly consistent but is not, however, the force of old, although he could bag a place. Of the others, Connemara Mist won off this mark at Thurles in December 2003, but needs to better more-recent efforts, but Penthouse Minstrel is another to consider as he is now just two pounds higher than a winning mark from last April and has gone well here in the past, and Native Daisy was second in a novice chase over course and distance last time, but it remains to be seen whether a seven-pound rise in her rating is fair. Overall, though, we will side with Bill Owen in the hope that the blinkers can work again.
Bill Owen 15-2 Led 2nd, ridden 3 out, ran on under pressure from 2 out, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Dec beating Quiet Water by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Penthouse Minstrel 14-1 In touch, lost place 7th, ridden after next, hampered and mistake 11th, well behind when mistake 4 out, 7th of 13, well behind You're Special at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (E) gd in Dec.
Twotensforafive 12-1 Tracked leaders, led 10th, clear 3 out, comfortably, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in Jul beating River Mere by 7l, 8 ran.
Lanmire Tower (IRE) 15-8 Chased leaders, pushed along 8th, ridden 3 out, weakened and eased flat, 2nd of 4, 27l behind Toms Gone Grey at Leicester 2m 4f amt hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft.
Connemara Mist (IRE) 18-1 Chased leader, led 3rd, blundered 5th, ridden 9th, lost touch 10th, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind Parish Oak at Wincanton 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Dec.
See You Around 20-1 Chased leaders to 2nd, stayed prominent, challenged 11th, jumped slowly next, weakened 14th, soon tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Whitenzo at Sandown 3m amt chs (E) gs.
Native Daisy (IRE) 33-1 Prominent, hit 12th, ridden after 13th, pressed winner from 3 out, kept on but no impression flat, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Nas Na Riogh at Wincanton 2m 5f mrs nov chs (D) gd in Nov.
