led until 9th, led 12th until 4 out, soon ridden, weakened next
mid-division until badly hampered and dropped rear 11th, stayed on again from 3 out, went 3rd flat, never really recovered
in touch, led 11th until next, led 4 out, stayed on well, ridden out
mid-division, headway 10th, close 3rd and ridden after 4 out, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, led 9th until next, weakened 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 9th, close up 13th, ridden to chase winner approaching 3 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders until 12th, soon behind
held up, headway after 8th, close up whenblundered badly and unseated rider 11th
prominent, led 10th until next, weakened 12th, tailed off when refused last
held up, badly hampered 11th, not recover and pulled up before next
Nonrunner
Fundamentalist may be able to land this one from Cossack Dancer whilst Pedros Brief could go well again despite having risen 16lbs. The selection failed to live up to the expectations of his formative years but has been nursed back to form and defeated Cossack Dancer by 3 lengths off level weights on his penultimate start. He followed that with a decent effort in defeat behind Jack The Giant and has solid claims. Cossack Dancer has claims at today's weights but hasn't found it easy to get his head in front where it matters over the years and others appeal as likelier winners. Pedros Brief has been harshly dealt with but he hasn't got many miles on the clock and the form that he showed early in his career suggests that he could well be competitive from his revised mark now that his new connections have found the key to him. Few of these experienced campaigners can be dismissed but Fundamentalist ticks the right boxes and wins the vote.
See You Sometime 12-1 (11-0) Led until 7th, chased clear leader until 14th, ridden after next, one pace when stumbled 3 out, 8th of 18, 28l behind Billyvoddan (10-12) at Ascot 3m lst hcp chs (1) gs in Dec '06.
Royal Auclair (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Always in touch, jumped slowly 5th, joined leader 25th, led 3 out to 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 16, 9l behind Wonderkid (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty hcp chs (2) gd in Dec.
Fundamentalist (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 3 out, headed next, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Jack The Giant (10-12) at Leicester 2m 4f chs (2) gs.
Kelrev (FR) 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 13th, ridden 3 out, kept on, 5th of 14, 12l behind Vodka Bleu (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gs.
Supreme Prince (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, slow jump 2nd, headway 10th, soon chasing leaders, weakened 4 out, 8th of 11, well behind Nadover (11-8) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Dec.
Jericho III (FR) 16-1 (10-10) Towards rear, ridden and effort after 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 13l behind Master Minded (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp chs (2) gs.
Tango Royal (FR) 20-1 (10-6) Towards rear, headway 8th, weakened from 4 out, 11th of 16, 50l behind Iron Man (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Pedros Brief (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, moved closer 5th, mistakes 10th and 11th (water), went 2nd 3 out, led soon after, clear when jumped right 2 out, easily, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Dec beating Cathedral Rock (11-0) by 7l, 12 ran.
Wrags To Riches (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Always behind, tailed off, 12th of 15, well behind Very Cool (11-1) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, not fluent 11th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when, 5th of 10, well behind Nacarat (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Cossack Dancer (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Jumped left, led, hit 6th and 11th, joined and strongly pressed 2 out, driven and kept on, headed approaching last, not quicken flat, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Fundamentalist (11-7) at Ascot 2m 5f Grad Ch (2) gf in Dec.
