The course stage it's big chase, the Southern National, which has the distinction of being i) the earliest on the circuit of spurious Nationals, ii) the joint most oxymoronically named and iii) only a 0125 handicap anyway. The weather was bleak to start with and got more wintry as the afternoon progressed, leaving the final race, at only 3.40pm, run in deep gloom. Proper jumping weather, although the rain, which began just before off, came too late for some, leading to plenty of non-runners, including five in the opener (and the eleven that ran did not seem, in the preliminaries, to be enamoured of the conditions). Reading the form on Friday, it was clear from the number of declarations that had so far avoided fast ground, that a few trainers had declared in expectation of the weather forecast being spot on, and the rain turning up a couple of hours late made the difference to their decision to run. On a more positive note, one of the stands in the local food fair, staged in the paddock side marquees, was offering eight venison and pheasant burgers for a fiver. What more could anyone wish for?

Going: 

Good to firm, good in places to start with, easing all day, probably faster than the official changes could be announced

Race 1: Good Food Company Maiden Hurdle [2m 4f]

1: El Batal     2: Lysander's Quest     3: Prince Vector

Winner owned: A Killoran, trained: Sean Curran, ridden: Bernie Wharfe

A 50/1 upset opened proceedings, and the way the race evolved gives reason to suspect that the form may not be replicated. A strong pace was set, and leaving the far side for the last time, three horses had gone clear, admittedly under some pressure from the saddle to do so. Instead of sealing the race between them, the field concertinaed up again, and as they got near the line, seven horses were split by no more than a couple of lengths. Favourite Prince Vector looked to have the pacer setters' measure when hitting the front at the last, but El Batal came with a determined and decisive late run. Lysander's Quest, who had been prominent for most of the race but not really been able to respond to the the first attack, took exception to El Batal going past and chased him vainly all the way to the line. That inexplicable chip on his shoulder could not be dislodged. Oddity of the race, and day perhaps, was Elliott on his first run for a new yard. Attracting some market support, which may not count for much on such a day, he ambled around at the back and stayed there until the end.

A mass charge up the run in, with barely 150 metres left to run, the leader is still Prince Vector, with Moshahed (10) and Gun Smith (3) in the frame. Winsley Hill (orange, far away) is rallying, Le Beau Bai (white, less far) is fading, and Lysander's Quest (blue) and El Batal (blue & white) are about to do some picking off. 

Race 2: John Rogerson Memorial Beginners' Chase [2m 2f]

1: Space Cowboy     2: Red Moor     3: Cash On

Winner owned: The Sanderson Partnership, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Mattie Batchelor

The race cut up to three runners, and the first half was 'run' at barely more than walking pace, often not really fast enough to give the horses momentum at the fences. All three jumped soundly when the pace picked up, but the simulated schooling session suited Space Cowboy. He has not always looked totally resolute but he was happy enough, on this occasion, to shrug off a mistake at the last and out battle Red Moor. The runner-up seemed to make an adequate chase debut, but not being able to beat Space Cowboy is just a bit worrying.

Race 3: Mike Brogan's 30th Birthday Novice Handicap Hurdle [2m 6.5f]

1: Surfboard     2: Cleymor House     3: Fleur Babe

Winner owned: Ashton Racing Club II, trained: Paul Blockley, ridden: Michael Murphy

It proved to be as uncompetitive handicap as you could ever see. Surfboard was slow away, and detached by about eight lengths early on, but his jockey was totally unflustered, gradually reeled the field in, and won going clear without any undue effort being obvious. What it did prove was that Surfboard was not just suited by chasing, but a much improved horse since his poor previous hurdles form. The handicapper will no doubt take the opportunity to bring his ratings in the two disciplines more into line. The runner up was miles clear of the rest and may also suffer unduly in the ratings, without the comfort of a win to his name in getting there. The ground has turned against Trackattack, and 13 of his previous 17 defeats had been in sellers.

Race 4: Mercer Supporting Teenage Cancer Trust Claiming Hurdle [2m 2.5f]

1: Count Kristo     2: Almanshood     3: Nawamees

Winner owned: AJ Mills & Rachel Powell, trained: Brendan Powell, ridden: Sam Jones

Unusually for a claimer the weights did not throw up a stand out (although those deluded types who backed Nawamees at odds-on may have done some throwing up of their own on watching his effort) and the bulk of the field, when adjusting weights to handicap ratings, were within a few pounds of each other. As the nine runners, and they boasted between them an exemplary recent history of win avoidance, that was nothing that they were unable to mentally overcome. In fact, it is hard to imagine a more committed bunch of fans of defeat than we saw here. The fact that the two least exposed came home 1-2, and well, well clear, at least augurs a bit better for them. Count Kristo had been placed in three hurdles, out of seven, and only really gone off the rails in chases, and Almanshood (winner at Plumpton, awful in three runs since) showed a bit of spark, trying to run the oppo into the ground. He went too fast, but only Count Kristo was able to do anything about it.

Race 5: Heart Of The South Racing Handicap Hurdle [2m 2.5f]

1: Royal Prodigy     2: Tarkesar     3: Spider Boy

Winner owned: The Gardens Entertainments Ltd, trained: Ron Hodges, ridden: Bernie Wharfe

In advance, this appeared set to be a tightly contested race, but the field ended up well and truly scattered, plodding home with plenty of daylight between each finisher. On his best form, Royal Prodigy had a definite chance, but a losing hurdles run of 22, back to 2003 tempered any enthusiasm, and what relevance his two flat wins in Jersey in the meantime had to this is unclear, or non-existant. He had run well last time in a seller over course and distance, and the presence of perennial maiden Spider Boy* in third suggests this was no better than selling standard. Mikado Melody, who usually goes well fresh and then sees his form tail off quickly, was pulled up on his first run in nine months. Could it be that his training routine has been changed to break the existing pattern, or was he just fed up with the weather?

* now 0/39 and all his nearest misses in chases over further

Race 6: Totesport.com Southern National Handicap Chase [3m 4f]

1: Finzi     2: Amazing Valour     3: Dun Drinan

Winner owned: Eddie Moss, trained: Michael Scudamore, ridden: John Kington

The pace for this was pretty solid, and with Zimbabwe off the pack and ridden along from the start, he was gradually joined in early defeat by several other runners. The finish at the serious end of the field was also quite dramatic. Dun Drinan led two from home, but hung right before the last, and made a right hash of jumping it. This let Finzi in, but he in turn veered off to the right on the run-in, and the vast gap on the rails opened for Amazing Valour, who seemed to have no chance after hitting three out, but finished with what was indeed amazing, but sadly just too belated, valour. Bengo was a creditable fourth but winning is not one of his strongest talents.

Race 7: Event Master Ticketing System conditional jockeys' Handicap Chase [2m 2f]

1: Adecco     2: River Amora     3: Jupon Vert

Winner owned: The Ashden Partnership, trained: Gary Moore, ridden: Eamon Dehdashti

All in all, they were an exposed bunch, all of whom are capable of turning up every now and then for a moment of glory. The exception was Brave Broncho, who was in this after three nondescript hurdle runs. He jumped stickily early on, and did not like the drop fence opposite the winning line at all, but had got back into serious contention when falling four from home, bringing down The Hero Sullivan. The race was then seized most uncharacteristically by Adecco, a horse whose first love is coming third, previously achieved in six times in only nine chases - the only win coming on his chase debut when presumably caught by surprise. Jupon Vert runs almost every week, and is best at this trip or less. His 72 chase runs have yielded six wins and no less than 16 seconds and 13 thirds. With both him and Adecco in the race, it was most unsporting of the track to schedule this race after the Placepot had finished.

Plus points  

Moshahed (race 1): Perhaps unwisely took on the leader, but was still in with a shout until the last fifty yards, when the effort told and he lost about four places in the blink of an eye. 

Lysander's Quest (race 1): A two miler on the flat, he showed more aptitude for hurdling than in a couple of minimum distance races in 2002/3. Even further would do no harm.

Royal Prodigy (race 5): Is in very good heart at the moment, and the handicapper might deem the bare form of this win is not to be taken too literally.

Amazing Valour (race 6): Was all at sea in his first three chases, but has shown some progress at the job in his last two. He is only five, and already seems as if this 3m 4f is at the lower end of his required distances. If he just brushes up his jumping when the heat is on...

River Amora (race 7): A bit livelier than his last, inexplicably dismal run, and although soon to turn thirteen, who is to say there is not a fourth course and distance win in him, as a fitting swan song?

Down arrows

Le Beau Bai (race 1): Forced a good pace, but ruined his chances with some very sloppy hurdling. On the upside, he only gave in after the last, but there is some work to be done.

Space Cowboy (race 2): 10/10 today, but will he want to repeat it in more competitive company?

Nawamees (race 3): An especially unmighty effort, even by his own high standards in that field - all of his jumps wins have come with Tony McCoy bending Nawamees' will to his own.

Football Crazy (race 3): Just looks totally out of love with the concept of competitive sport, and was ridden along from the third flight.

Tarkesar (race 5): Is not devoid of winning skills, but he is a tricky ride who has to deliver late and on the bridle, and thus puts a lot of onus on the jockey to time things to utter perfection.

Brave Broncho (race 7): Was down winded for a while after his fall, and can surely not have enjoyed the chase experience on his debut. Beware of a negative reaction if he stays over fences.

Adecco (race 7): Expect a return to his Placepot hero ways soon

UK Jumping selections

Prince Vector (race 1): Hit the front looking the danger, but got mugged by two very late runs on ground that whilst still officially fast, had already turned against him

The Hero Sullivan (race 7): All to play for in a bunched field when he was brought down four out