| Course: HUNTINGDON | Race date:09/02/06 | Race time:2:40 | Runners:7 |
| Race distance:3m | Going:Good | Winners time:6m 4.50s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alderburn | Richard Johnson | H D Daly | 11-7 | 7 | 141 | 120 | 9/4F | 4.6 | 3.2 | 2.49 | 1.01 | 1 | ||
| Compo | B C Byrnes | E McNamara | 9-13 | 8 | 112 | 103 | 7/2 | 6.2 | 4.56 | 2.2 | 2.12 | 2 | 5 | |
| The Dark Lord | Leighton Aspell | Mrs L Wadham | 11-11 | 9 | 127 | 124 | 17/2 | 18.32 | 11.98 | 8.4 | 7 | 3 | 9 | |
| Va Vavoom | Carl Llewellyn | N A Twiston-Davies | 11-8 | 8 | 116 | 121 | 8/1 | 18.32 | 11.48 | 5.08 | 3.75 | 4 | 7 | |
| Bell Lane Lad | Henry Oliver | D J Wintle | 10-6 | 9 | 0 | 105 | 12/1 | 45.77 | 17.13 | 5.84 | 16 | 5 | dist | |
| Wenceslas | Paul Moloney | Miss H C Knight | 10-7 | 6 | 0 | 106 | 7/1 | 19.5 | 11.33 | 5.84 | 7.2 | 6 | 30 | |
| First De La Brunie | Robert Thornton | A King | 10-0 | 5 | 0 | 110 | 5/1 | 13.73 | 6.17 | 4.2 | 6.2 | PU |
This was a fair handicap - markedly weakened by the six late withdrawals - which was run at an average gallop and the field finished strung out behind.
ALDERBURN, who took a crashing early fall at Leicester last time, got his career firmly back on track with a commanding success on this handicap bow. His jumping was particularly assured considering his Leicester experience, the longer trip proved right up his street, and he should be rated value for further than his winning margin.
While a rise in the weights is now inevitable, he still remains relatively unexposed over fences, and had clearly begun life in handicap chases on a decent mark. His confidence will be sky high now, yet his entry in the Royal & SunAlliance at Cheltenham still looks slightly optimistic, and it could be that the Aintree Festival may provide his best chance of bagging a decent novice prize.
The Irish raider Compo had every chance,on ground he would have found plenty quick enough, but was unable to live with the winner after two out. He was nicely clear of the remainder at the finish and is capable of winning off this mark.
Va Vavoom again left the impression he does not get home over this trip, but is a happier horse on a softer surface, and he could get closer once again when reverting to shorter.
Wenceslas, off the mark in novice company last time, had no more to offer approaching four from home and looks one to have reservations about.
First de la Brunie, pulled up at this venue last time, made a mistake passing the stands for the first time and was never going thereafter. He has become disappointing and has it all to prove after this.
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