close up, chase leader 10th until ridden 13th, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
led, headed 2nd, led again after 7th, ridden 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on one pace
in touch, not fluent 13th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
led 2nd, headed after 7th, weakened 11th, pulled up 14th
tracked leaders, reminders 4th, driven 9th, behind 11th, pulled up next
in rear, reminders 3rd and 7th, driven along 9th, headway to track leaders 11th, pressed leader 13th, led approaching last, ridden out
Withoutdefavourite never threatened the winner when runner-up here last time but it was still a good effort and he can figure once again. Castle Conflict also ran well in a lower grade chase at Stratford last time but Azure Fly ran below par in soft ground at Market Rasen and the going is not in his favour today either. By contrast, VIF ARGENT was nowhere near his best on a fast surface at Newton Abbot when last at the track but today's underfoot conditions will suit David Pipe's charge so he gets the nod.
Vif Argent (FR) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, led 4th, mistake 10th, headed before 2 out, no extra approaching last, 6th of 8, 32l behind Porters War (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Jul.
Azure Fly (IRE) 7-2fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place and ridden after 4 out, weakened from next, 4th of 6, 23l behind Cloudy Bob (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcap ch (3) sft.
Castle Conflict (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 8th, closed when hit 4 out, soon outpaced, rallied last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 8l behind No Duffer (11-9) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Oct.
Heavenstown (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Led, pushed along before 6 out, soon headed, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 9, well behind Molly's A Diva (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
Withoutdefavourite (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, reminders 7th and 10th, outpaced 13th, rallied 2 out, went 2nd at last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Red Admirable (10-12) at Bangor 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Presented (IRE) 13-2 (10-8) Midfield, headway to chase leaders 12th, effort before 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 4th of 7, 15l behind What A Good Night (10-3) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
