fell 1st
tracked leader, led 6th, hard driven 2 out, stayed on strongly
in touch, blundered 3rd, jumped badly left 8th, soon weakened, behind when refused 2 out
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, led before 5th, headed next, mistake 3 out, soon weakened
hampered and unseated rider 1st
held up in rear, headway 5th, chased leaders before 2 out, never on terms
held up in touch, headway approaching 4 out, soon chasing leader, jumped left 2 out, kept on well, no chance with winner
held up in rear, hampered 1st, soon tailed off
led until stumbled on landing 4th, soon headed, weakening when not fluent 3 out
Up To Something is one of several Charlie Longsdon runners to have travelled up from Lambourn. He doesn't face an easy task on his chasing bow however. Star In Flight also tackles fences for the first time, as does Simply Ned. Front-runner Jet Master fell here on his only previous try over the larger obstacles but winning hurdler Outrageous Request doesn't look badly treated unlike Bygones Of Brid, who was well beaten when favourite at Cartmel in July. SWALEDALE LAD came up a against couple of decent novices at Worcester last time and wasn't disgraced. He looks to be improving with experience and gets the nod here ahead of Hexham third Twentypoundluck, though Toledo Gold could be interesting if recapturing his best.
Simply Ned (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Always behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Minella Forfitness (10-3) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr, 21 ran.
Up To Something (FR) 4-6fav (11-6) Made all, clear 3 out, went right last, unchallenged, won at Fontwell 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr beating Abruzzi (10-9) by 18l, 9 ran.
Bygones of Brid (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 6th, lost 2nd 2 out, weakened on home bend, 3rd of 4, 33l behind Sergeant Pink (10-3) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Jul.
Star In Flight 3-1 (11-12) Led after 1st, mistake next, ridden and taken right after 2 out, went left going to last, clear flat, ran on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov beating Mr Supreme (11-3) by 6l, 6 ran.
Jet Master (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway to chase leaders 4 out, pushed along and weakened weakened approaching next, 6th of 9, 22l behind Bar De Ligne (11-5) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Apr.
Twentypoundluck (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Led, blundered 3 out, driven when headed after next, weakened last, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Rudemeister (10-13) at Hexham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Swaledale Lad (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Tracked winner, not fluent 1st, lost 2nd after 9th, stayed on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 9, 6l behind One Term (11-7) at Worcester 2m nov chs (4) gd in Sep.
Outrageous Request 11-4 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, led before last, headed flat, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Formal Bid (11-4) at Perth 2m clm hdl (4) gs in Sep.
Toledo Gold (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Took keen hold, led, not fluent 4 out, headed before 3 out, soon beaten, weakened before last, last of 4, 30l behind Gud Day (11-12) at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Sep.