prominent, led 3rd, headed 5th, led after 7th, headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, pushed along briefly after 7th, went 2nd after next until 4 out, one pace from 2 out
held up in rear, headway after 8th, close up 3 out, ridden, hampered and carried right after 2 out, one pace last
mid-division, headway 8th, led 4 out, ridden and hung right after 2 out, headed before last, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, closed before 3rd, lost place and jumped slowly 6th, behind after next, pulled up after 8th
tracked leaders on inside, ridden 8th, soon lost place, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, ridden after 9th, 5th and no impression before 2 out
in touch, not fluent and outpaced 9th, rallied 3 out, led before last, stayed on
held up towards rear, headway after 8th, lost place 3 out, tailed off
led until 3rd, led 5th until after 7th, weakened before 9th, soon behind, pulled up after
Minella Bliss won by eight lengths over a marathon trip at Market Rasen at the start of the month but that was his first victory since 2011 and he's 8lb higher. Credible opposition looks thin on the ground, however, as No Principles appears to have lost his way and Saga De Tercey makes his debut over the larger obstacles on the eve of his 10th birthday. Ikitview, Do Be Dashing and Tantalized are usually worth opposing but all have place claims again. RAID STANE has won four times between the flags so maybe capable of better after only seven starts under Rules. His jumping let him down at Plumpton last time but we'll take the chance that a pair of blinkers will help him concentrate better here.
No Principles 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division on outside, some headway approaching 6th, weakened before next, 7th of 11, 41l behind Rendezvous Peak (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Raid Stane (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, pushed along 8th, reminders before 11th, headway 14th, plugged on, never dangerous, 4th of 7, 13l behind Ballyvoneen (11-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp 0-100 (5) sft.
Elton Fox 50-1 (10-6) Always in rear, last of 9, well behind Jacks Grey (10-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr '13.
Minella Bliss (IRE) 2-1 (10-11) In touch in rear, good headway to lead approaching 3 out, ran on, comfortable, won at Market Rasen 3m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Around A Pound (11-5) by 8l, 5 ran.
Midnight Dove 9-2 (10-0) Prominent, hard driven 4 out, weakened before next, 4th of 6, 24l behind Churchfield Champ (11-12) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May '13.
Saga de Tercey (FR) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, 3rd and ridden before 2 out, lost place soon after, no impression before last, 4th of 8, 19l behind Positive Vibes (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Iktiview 20-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, left remote 4th next, 4th of 9, well behind Dawson City (11-12) at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Nordic Nymph 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, lost place approaching 5th, mistake next, well beaten after, last of 10, well behind Queen Of The Stage (10-4) at Ludlow 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Nov.
Do Be Dashing 8-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, not fluent 6th, mistake 3 out, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 7l behind Grand Gigolo (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
Tantalized 16-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, led before 9th, headed 3 out, weakened last, 3rd of 10, 21l behind Finish The Story (11-6) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gf in Aug.
