tracked leaders and disputing 4th when blundered and unseated rider 3rd
held up and keen, smooth headway approaching 10th, led 2 out, soon ridden and under pressure, kept on towards finish
held up, weakened from 12th
held up in touch, weakened from 10th, mistake 4 out
led, bumped by loose horse approaching 8th, headed approaching 3 out, ridden and outpaced approaching next, one pace
tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, headed next, every chance after last, no extra towards finish
held up in rear and keen, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, one pace
BERINGS EXPRESS showed decent form in bumpers and over hurdles before making a promising start to his chasing career until falling at the last in a race won by Ouzbeck here in May and Jonjo O'Neill's gelding is taken to make a winning return after an absence since then, getting the verdict ahead of Peacock and Brize Norton. The last mentioned is clearly going the right way over fences and Victor Dartnall's gelding has to be respected but he may struggle to follow up under his penalty. Peter Bowen has his string in fine form but his runner Dont Ask Me would need to improve on all known form to trouble the judge. Keith Reveley's Jass has shown a reasonable level of form over hurdles and could be of interest on his chasing debut, while Peacock was arguably the best of these over timber and he has to be considered, especially given the form of runners from the yard of Nigel Twiston-Davies. Berings Express is less exposed than the Twiston-Davies runner though and he looks the percentage call.
Brize Norton (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Held up, headway on inside when not much room and hampered after 5 out, narrow lead 2 out, soon in command, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Jul beating De Soto (11-9) by 10l, 6 ran.
Berings Express (FR) 15-8fav (10-12) With leader, led 10th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakening when fell at the last in race won by Ouzbeck (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in May, 5 ran.
Don't Ask Me (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Took keen hold in touch, weakened approaching 3 out, mistake 2 out, blundered last, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Ricardo's Chance (11-4) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Fifth Column (USA) 80-1 (10-7) Mid-divison, lost place after 5th, tailed off when mistake 6th and pulled up 5 out in race won by Corkage (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gf in Aug, 11 ran.
Jass 9-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 6th, headed and edged right flat, stayed on, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Symbiosis (9-13) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
Lester Leaps In (USA) 16-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, 48l behind Zilcash (11-5) at Aintree 2m nov chs (4) gd in May.
Peacock (FR) 5-1fav (10-13) Held up, struggling approaching 3 out, 17th of 21, 39l behind Auroras Encore (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Cengiz (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Disputed lead, lost place 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied to chase winner flat, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Shoudawoudacouda (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Aug.
