raced in 3rd, effort to challenge for 2nd 4 out, driven next, weakened well before 2 out, tailed off
chased winner, mistake 9th, driven and tried to close after 3 out, soon no impression and lost 2nd between last 2
held up in 4th, driven along and outpaced from 12th, headway after 3 out, went 2nd between last 2, no chance with winner
held up last until blundered and fell 8th
jumped left at some fences, made all, clear from 6th, unchallenged after
Mr Boo gets the vote in this handicap chase, with Patricksnineteenth and Lord Jay Jay others to consider. The selection looked progressive towards the end of last season and he probably needed the run at Folkestone when he dead-heated with Free Gift. Patricksnineteenth can give him the most to think about as he put in a solid effort when beating Incas at Nottingham last time. He likes to get his toe in so any further rain would boost his cause, although he has been off the track since April and he may be better for the run. Lord Jay Jay is useful but he has two things against him today, namely a long absence and the ground. Umbrella Man is far from reliable and a safer bet looks to be Mr Boo who is taken to score.
Mr Boo (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out and mostly chased leader after, upsides 2 out, led narrowly last, headed flat, rallied to join leader on line, won at Folkestone 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Oct deadheating with Free Gift (11-5), 4 ran.
Umbrella Man (IRE) 25-1 (10-2) Raced wide towards rear, headway after 10th (Becher's), weakened approaching 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Dunbrody Millar (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 29 ran.
Roznic (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Held up, pushed along 6th, struggling before 3 out, 10th of 12, 39l behind Glengarra (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Made In Montot (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Always in rear, mistake 4th, reminders 8th, weakened 14th, last of 6, 35l behind Donovan (10-3) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct.
Lord Jay Jay (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Led and clear 2nd, ridden 2 out, challenged and headed last, weakened close home, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Hot 'n' Holy (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) gd in Oct '06.
Patricksnineteenth (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, led 9th, headed 4 out, outpaced next, soon ridden, rallied to lead again flat, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Apr beating Incas (10-7) by 2l, 12 ran.
