tracked leader util before 7th, chased winner from 8th, until before 2 out, one pace
in rear, went 2nd from 7th, led 8th, clear from before 2 out, canter
led, clear from 3rd until 7th, weakened before 9th
tracked leaders, jumped left 1st, mistake 6th in rear, went 4rd before 4 out, chased winner before 2 out, no impression
Twice a winner over fences earlier this year, CRACK AT DAWN returned from a lay-off with a win over hurdles at Southwell last month. Today's likely soft ground is a worry but he's just preferred to Mighty Magnus. The latter has yet to win in 10 starts over fences, though he did go close at Sedgefield on his latest outing and he looks up to scoring at this level sooner or later. Wishes Or Watches has been pulled-up either side of winning at Plumpton in April and it's hard to know what to expect from him, while Strathaird is another inconsistent sort and Whatshallwedo is hard to fancy on his chasing debut.
Mighty Magnus (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Held up in touch, led and blundered 12th, headed before 3 out, led again 2 out, kept on headed last 100 yards, no extra, 2nd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Baltic Pathfinder (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) gs.
Whatshallwedo 25-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden 7th, kept on same pace under pressure from last (usual 2 out), no impression, 4th of 11, 11l behind Stravita (10-5) at Taunton 2m 1f sell hcp hdl 0-90 (5) fm in Apr.
Wishes Or Watches (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, chased leaders before 7th, went 3rd approaching and mistake 10th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Bajan Sunshine (10-6) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gd in May, 11 ran.
Strathaird (IRE) 12-1 (9-11) Towards rear, headway 4 out, effort 3 out, one pace, 5th of 11, 30l behind On Gossamer Wings (10-13) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Nov.
Crack At Dawn (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) In touch, headway to 3rd 3 out, went 2nd soon after, led before next, clear before last, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Nov beating Tip Of My Tongue (11-1) by 3l, 8 ran.