held up in touch, chased leaders 11th, ridden to challenge 4 out, weakened 2 out
led, jumped right 2nd, headed 5th, lost place after 9th
held up towards rear, headway before 15th, soon no impression
held up in touch, jumped left throughout, reminders 9th, weakened before 15th
raced in rear, slow 7th, headway 14th, chased leader after 3 out, soon hard driven, weakened before last
in touch, mistake 2nd, led 16th, strongly challenged from 2 out, hard ridden, all out
in rear when blundered 3rd, headway 16th, chased leaders 2 out, soon weakened
settled in mid-division, headway 4 out, soon tracking leaders, effort approaching 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat
prominent, led 13th, headed after next, weakened before 2 out
prominent, mistake 1st, led 5th, mistake and headed 13th, led again after next, headed 16th, weakened 3 out
always behind, slow 11th, tailed off when pulled up last
behind, not fluent 9th, under pressure 15th, soon beaten
raced in rear, headway before 3 out, never on terms
Carruthers is sure to make this a decent test from the front with his bold front-running style and is entitled to go close but it might be worth taking a chance with MASSINI'S MAGUIRE. Martin Pipe reeled off a hat-trick in this race at the start of the century and Massini's Maguire may be the horse to provide David Pipe with his first success in this contest on his first run for the yard. He was beaten a long way behind Carruthers on his sole start last season but the ground was against him then and he's attractively weighted if his new team can get him back to his best. Take The Breeze rates an obvious threat, there should be more to come from Exmoor Ranger and Can't Buy Time this term and they're feared whilst it will be interesting to see if Possol can resume his upwards curve over fences having stayed over hurdles last season in a campaign that was geared around a tilt at the Grand National.
Carruthers 10-1 (11-7) Disputed lead, headed 3 out, ridden to regain lead narrowly between last 2 fences, headed last, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind What A Friend (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G1 (1) gs in Apr.
Eric's Charm (FR) 8-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, lost place from 3rd and towards rear, slipped up on bend after 5th, in a race won by Auroras Encore (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m lstd hcp chs (1) sft in May, 12 ran.
Can't Buy Time (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) In touch, mistake 5th, fell 8th (canal turn), in a race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Possol (FR) Evensfav (11-6) With leader, led 3rd until 6th, led 8th, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Meath All Star (11-6) at Perth 3m nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
From Dawn To Dusk 11-4fav (10-4) Held up in touch, not fluent 10th or 4 out, outpaced before next, went 3rd after 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Duc De Regniere (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Massini's Maguire (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Mistakes, tracked leading pair, hit 4th and next, mistakes 7th and 11th, blundered 12th, ridden 4 out, soon struggling, 3rd of 5, 31l behind Carruthers (11-7) at Newbury 3m grad ch (2) hvy in Dec.
Exmoor Ranger (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Prominent, jumped slowly 2nd, lost place next, remained in touch, outpaced approaching 3 out, 4th of 7, 13l behind Duc De Regniere (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Take The Breeze (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 5 out, blundered 3 out, soon lost place, rallied approaching last,, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Burton Port (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Always Waining (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 5th, hit 7th, weakend after 4 out, 11th of 15, 31l behind Silmi (9-11) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Dover's Hill 3-1 (11-2) Made all, clear from 2 out, easily, won at Exeter 3m beg chs (4) gd beating Triggerman (11-5) by 11l, 8 ran.
Burren Legend (IRE) 5-1 (10-3) Towards rear, mid-division when unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Auroras Encore (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m lstd hcp chs (1) sft in May, 12 ran.
Silmi 16-1 (9-11) Held up in rear, headway 10th, went 2nd 3 out, led, went right and fluffed last, driven out, held on, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep beating Five Dream (10-3) by 1 1/4l, 15 ran.
Free World (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, good headway before 3 out, went 3rd and hit 2 out, no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 17, 7l behind Edgbriar (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd.
