mid-division, mistake 1st, struggling after 6th, jumped left 11th, plodded on from 2 out, tailed off
led until after 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leader, led after 3 out, driven out
held up towards rear, hit 1st, ridden and struggling 9th, mistake 11th, tailed off next, soon pulled up
mid-division on outside, jumped left at times and not always fluent, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
mid-division, mistake 1st, hit 8th, 7th 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division, blundered badly 9th, struggling next, tailed off
mid-division, reminder after 6th, behind 10th, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, 9th 4 out, soon eased, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, jumped right 2nd and 3rd, went 3rd after 3 out, 2 1/2 lengths off front pair when fell last
in rear, tailed off 7th, pulled up after 9th
prominent, 4th and weakening when mistake 2 out, left 3rd last
tracked leaders, jumped left 2nd, mistake next, 6th when mistake 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, challenged next, driven and stayed on flat, no impression on winner towards finish
always in rear, tailed off
Mick Channon doesn't have many chasers in his yard but Balbriggan has already had a run in a point-to-point. Savant Blue was ahead of Trojan Sun when only beaten half-a-length by Sum Laff is a similar contest at Ludlow and will be fancied to go one better here while Avenging Ace and Weston Lodge are the types to step up on their hurdles form now tacking fences. Fidelor, Greywell Boy and Little Chip are others that catch the eye but MENTALIST can make the most of his weight-for-age allowance. Venetia Williams' four-year-old didn't manage a win over hurdles last season and but this step up in distance is probably what's required at this stage of his career and he should jump fences.
Almutaham (USA) 13-2 (11-9) Led to 8th, weakened before 2 out, virtually pulled up, 5th of 6, well behind Stormion (10-10) at Hexham 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) hvy.
Avenging Ace (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, still pressing winner last, stayed on, held flat, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Kruzhlinin (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Apr.
Balbriggan (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 2 out, no extra last, 6th of 10, 17l behind Kings Bayonet (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (3) gd in Apr.
Celts Espere 14-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, weakened before 4 out, 3rd of 12, 19l behind Night In Milan (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Jan '11.
Fidelor (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Close up on outside, ridden along after 5th, went 3rd next, went 2nd after 3 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Cinevator (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Greywell Boy 7-2 (10-12) Led until headed approaching 3 out, went left 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 14, 22l behind Moorland Sunset (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) sft in Dec.
Little Chip (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, lost place after 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 11th of 14, well behind Coffee (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
Material Boy 4-1fav (11-8) Held up, reminders after 5th, weakened after next, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Sohappyharry (11-9) at Ludlow 2m 5f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Sarraco (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division on outside, headway 4 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 10, 31l behind Reste Gosse (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f NH mdn hdl (4) gd in May.
Savant Bleu (FR) 5-2fav (11-4) Held up in 5th, not fluent 7th, not fluent 12th, headway after 13th, hit 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, challenged last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Sum Laff (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f Beginners Chase (0-110) (4yo+) (4) gd.
Tornant (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway after 2 out, stayed on, 4th of 15, 3l behind American Legend (11-9) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft.
Trojan Sun 5-2fav (11-4) Jumped left, led, clear until after 13th, headed 3 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Sum Laff (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 4f Beginners Chase (0-110) (4yo+) (4) gd.
Weston Lodge (IRE) 8-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 3 out, weakening when mistake next, tailed off, 9th of 12, well behind Night In Milan (11-5) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Mentalist (FR) 4-7fav (10-12) Led until not fluent 2nd, led again next until 4 out, not fluent 3 out, mistake when looking held 2 out, soon weakened, left modest 2nd last until demoted to 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Mattoral (10-7) at Chepstow 2m 4yo hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Tiquer (FR) 20-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, weakened 4 out, pulled up before next, tailed off, in a race won by Martial Law (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun, 13 ran.
