LINGFIELD (31 Dec 2005)

Soft

1:20 Play Poker At ladbrokes.com Novices' Chase (Class C) (5yo+)

[off 1:22] £8,317.91, £2,582.11, £1,390.27 14 fences (2m4f110y) 2m4½f

Comments In Running OR TS RPR

1 Copsale Lad N J Henderson 8 11-6 M A Fitzgerald EvensF 136 — —

2 dist Phone Back (IRE) G L Moore 6 11-0 P Hide 11/1 — —

3 6 Sett Aside Mrs L C Jewell 7 11-0 L Aspell 50/1 — —

F Back Nine (IRE) R H Alner 8 11-0 A Thornton 6/4 120 — —

UR Twenty Degrees G L Moore 7 10-11 C Bolger(3) 12/1 100 — —

5 ran TIME 5m 27.20s (slow by 22.20s) TOTAL SP 107%

NON RUNNER: Foreman (GER)

1st OWNER: Swallow Partnership BRED: G G A Gregson TRAINER: N J Henderson

2nd OWNER: The Friday Night Racing Club

3rd OWNER: Field Of Fortune

TOTE WIN £1.70 PL £1.10, £3.90; Ex £10.40; CSF £10.63

ANALYSIS: The absence of the classy Foreman robbed this race of much of its interest, and COPSALE LAD came home in splendid isolation after Back Nine came down when looking held at the second-last.

Connections were on the point of taking Copsale Lad out until they heard Foreman wasn't running, as this ground doesn't suit him at all. However, while he didn't enjoy it at all down the back straight and his rider lost an iron with a blunder at the eighth, he responded when woken up going into the far turn and jumped much better over the last five fences, taking command after the fourth-last and holding a two-length lead when he was left clear. He is a useful novice, but his opportunities will be governed by the ground.

Back Nine was fancied by some to reverse October course-and-distance form with the winner on this ground and going down the back he looked much the likelier winner. However, he was under strong pressure and had little prospect of getting back past the winner when he fell heavily at the second-last.