held up, hit 11th, headway to chase leaders 5 out, ridden to lead after 2 out, blundered last, kept on well
led, blundered badly 7th, headed on bend after 8th, ridden and weakened 3 out
tracked leader, hit 2nd, ridden 4 out, one pace from 2 out
towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
behind, weakened from 10th
mid-division, in 4th when fell 9th
tracked leaders, reminders 11th, soon weakened
tracked leader, led on bend after 8th, ridden and headed after 2 out, kept on from last
behind, outpaced 10th, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, one pace, no impression
behind when unseated rider 1st
An interesting handicap chase which has a trappy look to it, and we will side with Roschal to be too good for Fair Prospect, Kings Bounty and Cill Churnain. The selection is suited by two and half miles and and ground on the easy side of good, he had a decent enough pipe opener at Market Rasen earlier in the month, and if he can run up to his best then he looks good enough in a race where there are doubts over plenty. One of those is Fair Prospect, who won over fences at his only attempt, but that was almost two years ago. He has been given plenty of time to recover from whatever was ailing him, and he will have been well schooled, but he is best watched after such a long absence. Kings Bounty is another at home in these conditions, and his yard are having winners, so he should be fit enough to put up a good showing, though he isn't improving these days and may be handicapped to the hilt. Of the others, don't discount Cill Churnain, who was given a quiet return at Bangor last time after a long absence. He won over course and distance at this meeting two years ago, and is back near a winning mark, so we can expect better here. Not an easy race to assess then, and we suggest Roschal as the likely winner.
Fair Prospect 8-11fav (11-0) Always going well, tracked leaders, led on bit 3 out, idled flat, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (E) gf in Dec '03 beating The Lyme Volunteer (10-9) by 13l, 5 ran.
The Nomad 20-1 (11-4) With leader, led 4 out, ridden and headed after next, no extra and lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Feel The Pride (11-5) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in May.
Cill Churnain (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Chased leaders to 12th, behind when unseated rider 4 out in race won by Ebony Light (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs, 10 ran.
Fiori 11-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, no danger after, 5th of 10, 33l behind East Tycoon (11-12) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gf in Aug.
Deliceo (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Towards rear, ridden 8th, never dangerous, 7th of 11, 44l behind The Extra Man (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Apr.
Roschal (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Held up, headway when hit 5th, chased winner when hit 3 out, weakened after last, 4th of 9, 8l behind Seaniethesmuggler (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd.
King's Bounty 5-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, outpaced approaching 3 out, 4th of 7, 5l behind Cool Cossack (11-12) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gf in May.
Soeur Fontenail (FR) 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders until mistake and weakened 11th, virtually pulled up flat, 7th of 8, well behind Blakeney Coast (9-11) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in May.
Jallastep (FR) 4-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, headway 4 out, ridden next, one pace, 4th of 10, 16l behind Gone Too Far (11-9) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Sept.
Blitzy Boy (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) Behind, badly hampered 5th, trailing when pulled up before next pulled up at the 6th in race won by Look Between Us (10-12) at Listowel 2m 3f hcp chs gd in Sept, 10 ran.
