soon chasing leaders, chased winner from 7th until approaching 3 out, soon weakened
made all, ridden approaching 3 out, driven out
chased leaders until lost place 11th
chased leaders, outpaced 11th, rallied 4 out, chased winner approaching 3 out, chance last, one pace
The form of Profowens last win has been franked by the second winning the Topham since and so he gets the vote to win again, although the consistent pair of Mister Apples and Sha Bihan will be there to profit on any mistakes. Peter Beaumont's nine-year-old bounced back to form last time out however his record suggests that he isn't one to place maximum faith in after a victory. That win at Wetherby came with a re-application of blinkers and if they do the trick for a second race in a row, this horse who likes to race prominently could be hard to peg back late on. Sha Bihan is now 7lbs above his highest winning mark but he still looks progressive over fences (just four starts so far) and assuming he handles this quicker ground, he looks a big threat. Mister Apple's continues to find one too good but we know he acts on the ground and he looks one for place purposes once again. Shannon's Pride completes the field but certainly cannot be left out of calculations although he will need to jump better than a week ago, however Profowens looked on good terms with himself at Wetherby and is fancied to go in once again.
Sha Bihan (FR) 10-3 (11-10) Always prominent, ridden 4 out, left 2 lengths 2nd when hampered 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Liverpool Echo (11-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar.
Shannon's Pride (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Mid-division when fell at the 9th in race won by Dunbrody Millar (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd, 29 ran.
Profowens (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) With leader, led 10th until 13th, led again 2 out, went clear after last, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Dunbrody Millar (11-9) by 12l, 9 ran.
Mister Apple's (FR) 2-1jt-fav (10-4) Led 2nd, headed 5th, went 2nd approaching 2 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Bubble Boy (11-3) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
