chased leaders, hampered 5th, ridden 4 out, stayed on to chase winner towards finish, no impression
mid-division, fell 2nd
held up, headway approaching 8th, weakened 5 out
chased leaders, went 2nd at 5th, chased winner until lost 2nd towards finish
held up mid-division, weakened from 8th, tailed off
always behind, mistake 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led to 2nd, in 2nd when fell 5th
led from 2nd, clear 3 out, kept on well
always behind, tailed off from 8th
always behind, struggling from 8th, pulled up 2 out
behind, outpaced approaching 9th, no impression from next
in touch, in 6th and ridden and blundered and unseated 10th
Wee Forbees can get his career back on track and get the better of Monsieur and Ballabriggs in this Beginners Chase. Sent off a short-priced favourite for his chase debut over three miles in November, he was travelling well enough until a bad mistake knocked the stuffing out of him. Another mistake a couple of fences later put paid to his chances and he was quickly pulled up. A useful hurdler who has the scope to make a better chaser, he has enough speed for this shorter trip and is sure to have been intensively schooled. Chef De Cour and Zaffran Gail are watched with interest on their chase debuts but, like the selection, will come into their own over further as will Gyspy George and Ballabriggs. The former showed ability on debut last month whilst the latter is also heading in the right direction. The trip looks ideal for Monsieur but he has some jumping issues to address and is a risky proposition. So, for the winner, we return to Wee Forbees.
BallaBriggs (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, blundered 5th, ridden approaching 4 out, took 2nd flat, no impression, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Just For Men (10-12) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Dec.
Bog Oak (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) In touch, weakened 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Clearly In Motion (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May, 8 ran.
Cebonne (FR) (10-3) Never a threat, 9th of 13, 28l behind Nidor (10-6) at Auteuil 2m 2f hdl hvy in Nov '05.
Chef de Cour (FR) 9-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, steady headway 4 out, led after last, driven out comfortably, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating Tartan Snow (10-13) by 2 1/2l, 13 ran.
Gypsy George 11-2 (11-0) Behind, headway 8th, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 14, 25l behind Divex (11-0) at Catterick 2m 3f mdn chs (5) gf in Dec.
Magic Bengie 150-1 (11-0) Held up, behind from 5th, soon tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Circassian (11-0) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (4) gs in Dec.
Monsieur (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Led, clear when fell 5 out in race won by Sunday City (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Wee Forbees (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) Led and set strong pace, blundered 10th, headed 13th, weakened rapidly and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Rathowen (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f beg chs (4) sft in Nov, 12 ran.
Wild Chimes (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Towards rear when fell at the 5th in race won by Kalmo Bay (10-7) at Hexham 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Nov, 8 ran.
Zaffran Gail (IRE) 125-1 (10-5) Mid-division, headway 5th, effort after 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 11l behind Master Builder (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Categorical 10-1 (10-12) Mid-division, weakened from 2 out, 7th of 15, 26l behind Doctor David (11-9) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec.
Just Posh 200-1 (10-0) Held up, mistake 1st, never dangerous, 6th of 7, 33l behind Cedrus Libani (11-10) at Catterick 2m nov chs (3) gd in Dec.
