led, not fluent 10th, ridden after 3 out, headed 2 out, soon hung left, just over 2 lengths down when left in lead and hampered last, headed towards finish
held up, headway 11th, mistake 4 out, weakened after 3 out, left moderate 3rd last
always prominent, ridden 2 out, looked held when left 2nd last, stayed on flat to lead towards finish
raced keenly, held up, jumped left 3rd, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, headway 9th, mistake 4 out, led 2 out, in lead when fell last
prominent, not fluent 8th, ridden and lost place 9th, 5th and behind when jumped awkward and unseated rider 4 out
Not many runners here but still competitive with Aces Or Better, Our Jasper, Sunday City and Left Hand Drive all having chances and the tentative vote goes to Sunday City. Donald McCain loves to have winners at his local track and Sunday City is a potentially very decent chaser in the making. He alreasy has course form to his name on this going and should know his game pretty well for this, his debut, so we will take a chance on him. Stablemate Our Jasper has not been seen since finishing down the field in a Listed hurdle at Aintree in April. Although he can act on good ground, he seems better with cut and we will take him on. Aces Or Better looks a big danger after winning a Tipperary chase in May, since when he has been snapped up by Brendan Powell. A follow up from him would be no surprise, while Left Hand Drive also has a chase win to his name, though he does not look favoured by the weights here. Not a race to get heavily involved in financially, but the vote goes to Sunday City.
Aces Or Better (IRE) 6-4fav (11-9) Tracked leader in 2nd, led approaching straight, soon clear, stayed on well under pressure, won at Tipperary 2m 4f beg chs gf in May beating The Bosses Nephew (11-12) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Boytjie (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Held up, raced keenly, blundered 2nd, close up when brought down at the 4th in race won by Try (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f cnd hcp chs (5) gf, 16 ran.
Our Jasper 100-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, weakened after 4 out, 15th of 22, 42l behind Two Miles West (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Shinjiru (USA) 250-1 (11-4) Mistake 1st, behind from 5th, tailed off from 6th, 6th of 7, well behind Howle Hill (11-10) at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) gd.
Sunday City (JPN) 16-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, upsides when fell 3 out in race won by Leslingtaylor (9-11) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in May, 23 ran.
Left Hand Drive 13-2 (10-7) In touch, chased leaders 3 out, every chance after 2 out, led after last, held on under pressure, won at Stratford 2m 4f beg chs (3) gd in Sept beating Michabo (11-6) by a shd, 14 ran.
