led to 2nd, chased leader after, led again after 3 out, headed flat, no extra
held up, effort 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, carried slightly right 4 out, headway 3 out, challenged last, hard ridden to lead close home
held up, jumped right and headway 5th, mistake 7th, jumped right 4 out, led flat, headed close home
jumped right, led 2nd, clear 4th, headed after 3 out 4th and weakening when fell 2 out, dead
Making it onto the short list are Scalloway, Rookery Lad and Karakum, with the selection being Scalloway. Scalloway very much looked like an improver when scoring at Newton Abbot last time on his handicap chasing debut and, even though he has been raised ten pounds for that easy win, still looks to be a major player today. Rookery Lad's winning run came to an end at Perth last time and you have to decide whether it was his upwardly-revised mark or the fact that he could not dominate that beat him at Perth last time. An absence and the fact that he might not get the lead he wants turn us away from Figaro du Rocher, while Rooster's Reunion is 11 pounds better off for the ten lengths that the selection beat him at Newton Abbot but, as indicated, we are going to stick with Scalloway. Finally, Alroyal looked promising over hurdles in 2004 but has clearly had problems since, but you couldn't rule Karakum out of a place based on the best of fairly recent efforts. Overall, though, we will stick with Scalloway.
Scalloway (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led approaching 7th, driven clear approaching last, driven out, won at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd beating Rooster's Reunion (11-2) by 10l, 8 ran.
Figaro du Rocher (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Led until headed 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 10, 39l behind Dark'n Sharp (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Nov.
Rooster's Reunion (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, ridden 4 out, chased winner 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Scalloway (11-4) at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Alroyal (GER) 4-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, track leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened quickly approaching 2 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Qabas (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Oct '04, 7 ran.
Karakum 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, hit 5th, weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 8, 23l behind Il Penseroso (11-0) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Rookery Lad 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, prominent after 8th, led 10th until 4 out, soon ridden and weakened from 2 out, 8th of 10, 46l behind Ball O Malt (10-11) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gf in Jul.
