held up towards rear, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
with leader, led 2nd, headed 9th, led again 12th, under pressure from 2 out, kept on well flat
led, headed 2nd, remained close-up, led again 9th, hit and headed 12th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, mistake 10th, went 2nd approaching 4 out, kept on from last
held up in touch, challenged 2 out, every chance last, no extra flat
held up, not fluent 9th, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out
held up in touch, lost place from 8th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
MIDDLETON DENE can come out on top in this beginners' chase and he is nominated over Gansey and Lease Lend. Rose Dobbin's 7-year-old does tend to go best when fresh and he is making his seasonal return today. He is also making his chasing debut but he shapes as though he will be effective in this sphere and he looks to have been found a good opportunity to get his head in front. Gansey does boast an admirable level of consistency and he was far from disgraced when last seen out over hurdles in April. He should make into a decent novice chaser and he merits plenty of respect. Lease Lend does have the benefit of experience over the chase fences but he has been been off the racecourse since December 2008 so he may be sharper for this run. Checkerboard was useful over hurdles but he ran as though something was amiss when last seen out in March and it will be interesting to see if he can bounce back to form today. A fascinating race and the vote goes to Middleton Dene.
Be Brief 9-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led after 3 out, headed before next, ridden and kept on same pace, no impression flat, 2nd of 14, 2 3/4l behind Time For Rupert (11-5) at Catterick 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
Checkerboard (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) In touch, effort 3 out, weakened quickly, pulled up before last, in a race won by Cash Man (10-11) at Carlisle 2m 5f beg chase (4) gs in Mar, 7 ran.
Dream Along 66-1 (10-9) Led, headed after 2 out, weakened last, 5th of 14, 21l behind Genari (10-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gf in Sep.
Gansey (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Prominent, hit 4th, led 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, kept on every chance until no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Overserved (11-10) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Apr '08.
Lease Lend 11-2 (11-0) Held up in touch, mistake 1st, left poor third 2 out, 3rd of 6, 49l behind The Duke's Speech (11-0) at Wetherby 2m beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Middleton Dene (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Mid-division, outpaced before 3 out, never on terms, 6th of 10, 16l behind The Polomoche (11-12) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Yachvili (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 5th, outpaced 3 out, 3rd of 8, 16l behind Amalfi Coast (9-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Sep.
Etxalar (FR) 10-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, blundered 7th, outpaced 3 out, rallied to go 2nd briefly last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 10l behind Grand Theatre (11-12) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Mr Barnacle (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Towards rear, mistakes, weakened approaching 12th, 6th of 10, 12l behind Doc Row (10-5) at Kelso 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Nov.
