chased leaders, tracked leader 9th, led narrowly 11th, driven and headed 2 out, chased leader until last, one pace in 3rd flat
in touch, headway to 3rd 3 out, weakened next
held up, mistake 1st, headway to 3rd at 10th, went 2nd 14th, challenged next, led 2 out, wandered left and headed last, soon outpaced by winner
patiently ridden, held up last, steady headway to 4th after 3 out, close 3rd 2 out, quickened to lead last, soon clear
close up in 4th, dropped to 5th at 10th, mistake next, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leader until 9th, stayed handy, ridden 15th, outpaced next, rallied before last, stayed on again flat
led until narrowly headed 11th, chased leader until 14th, weakened 3 out, well beaten 6th when hit 2 out
Great to see the veterans on display and BOWLEAZE could prove a surprise victor against Knowhere and Magic Sky. Front running is very much the forte of Bowleaze and the handicapper seems to be finally giving him a chance off a mark of 123 having pegged him on 130 last year. Knowhere ran well to be second to Eric's Charm in a similar event at Sandown. He isn't the force he once was and the suspicion is that the faster surface could find him out. Magic Sky unseated rider in the Topham Chase at Aintree. He has to prove that he stays this trip though three miles here is one of the easier ones to get. Oscar Park has won on good ground in the past though we'd be a little more worried about his desperate completion record at the moment. Course-and-distance winner, Briery Fox is 2lb lower than that winning mark so cannot be ruled out. Having considered the other participants, Bowleaze is best.
Knowhere (IRE) 28-1 (10-6) Mid-division when fell 7th, in a race won by Chief Dan George (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 22-1 (10-1) Mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 8th, in a race won by Always Waining (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f list hcp ch (1) gs, 27 ran.
Oscar Park (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) In rear, not fluent 1st, jumped right and not fluent 7th, struggling before 17th, pulled up after 18th, in a race won by Synchronised (11-5) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f list hcp ch (1) hvy in Mar, 17 ran.
Briery Fox (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Always in rear, mistake 6th, tailed off when blundered 16th, 6th of 8, 48l behind Eric's Charm (11-10) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Mar.
Bowleaze (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Behind, mistake 3rd, driven to chase leaders 3 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 4th of 10, 17l behind Meanus Dandy (11-1) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Pretty Star (GER) 16-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, mistake 14th, weakened 16th, 11th of 14, 49l behind Burren Legend (10-0) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in Mar.
Cool Roxy 11-4 (11-3) Led narrowly, headed 5th, mistake next, with leader until 4 out, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Bormo (11-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
