held up in rear, pushed along 4th, headway after 9th, weakened 10th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear and keen, lost place 8th, weakened approaching 10th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear and keen, ridden before 3 out, never dangerous, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, challenged after 3 out, soon led, under pressure last, held on well towards finish
led, headed after 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders and keen, ridden approaching 2 out weakened approaching last
tracked leader, pushed along and weakened from 12th, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 7th, and again 9th, weakened approaching 10th, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, jumped slow 2nd, chased leaders 3 out, every chance when blundered last, kept on towards finish
Overlaw won twice in the spring but hasn't been sighted since pulling up when favourite at Southwell in April. Optimum, a winner over hurdles here in July, is racing over fences for the first time and also returns from a lay-off but fitness shouldn't be an issue for Pistol Basc, runner-up at Wetherby last time when trying to follow up an earlier success at the track. DOUGLAS JULIAN did everything asked of him on his chasing debut at Hexham, however, and this much-improved sort can defy the handicapper again here as long as the ground doesn't get any quicker.
Magnetic Pole 8-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, mistake 8th, not fluent and lost 2nd 13th, weakened approaching 4 out, 3rd of 7, 45l behind Holmwood Legend (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Pistol Basc (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, chased winner approaching 3 out, soon ridden, kept on, always held, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind You Know Yourself (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Optimum (IRE) 7-2fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, good headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders before next, led soon after, in command 2 out, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-85 (5) sft in Jul beating Be Ashored (11-12) by 3l, 13 ran.
Douglas Julian 13-8fav (10-0) Tracked leader, led 9th, soon headed, led after 2 out, drew clear approaching last, eased final furlong, won at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov beating Innominate (10-12) by 12l, 9 ran.
Overlaw 7-2fav (11-12) Led until 2nd, led again 4th, headed 8th weakened 10th, behind when pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Hever Road (10-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Walk Tall (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Took keen hold in touch, lost place after 4 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Aztec Treasure (11-5) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp 0-100 (4) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Ours (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Chased leading pair until 6th, ridden and struggling in 4th before 4 out, 4th of 6, 18l behind Wise Men Say (11-6) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Hever Road (IRE) 11-2 (9-11) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, hampered 3rd, soon lost place, behind 10th, rallied after 14th, chased winner last until stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Backfromthecongo (11-9) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov.
One More Dinar 7-2fav (9-12) Tracked leaders on outside, lost place after 6th, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 8th, not fluent 11th (water), mistake next, closing under pressure when went left, not fluent and unseated rider 15th, in a race won by Azulada Bay (11-8) at Ludlow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
