held up in touch, headway and close up on outside 8th, driven and outpaced by front trio before 2 out, soon ridden, well held before last
pressed leader, led 7th, headed narrowly 5 out, lost place 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied on inside next, led again last, ridden clear flat, stayed on well
led to 7th, pressed leader, led again narrowly 5 out, driven after 3 out, headed next, ridden and no chance with front pair flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, soon challenged going well, led narrowly next, headed last, ridden and no impression with winner flat
held up in rear, went right 8th, not fluent 10th and next, pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, mistake 6th and 8th, ridden when lost place after 3 out, behind when fell next
After a few near-misses over fences, TWO TAFFS (NAP) came good in a Listed handicap at Ayr in April and should be one to follow this season over this sort of distance. Double Treasure is much improved but has a lot to find on these terms and will probably face a battle for the lead from Midnight Shot. Tintern Theatre came up against the much-vaunted Finian's Oscar on his fencing bow and wasn't disgraced but Alcala would have probably have finished ahead of him that day had he not slipped up between fences and he'd won his previous five. Cultivator was a decent novice hurdler last season and should make an even better chaser, though this is a very tough start.
Alcala (FR) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, slipped up and unseated rider on bend after 11th, at Chepstow 2m 3f lst (1) gs in Oct.
Double Treasure 7-1 (11-11) Made all, driven clear after 2 out, ridden out flat, stayed on well, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Sep beating Marquis Of Carabas (11-12) by 8l, 9 ran.
Midnight Shot 15-2 (11-9) Made most, shaken up before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on well run-in, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Sep beating Petrou (11-1) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Two Taffs (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway before 8th, led 3 out, clear before 2 out, kept on well run-in, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gs in Apr beating Theinval (11-12) by 3l, 8 ran.
Cultivator 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, headway 5th, chasing leaders 3 out, one pace and beaten before last, weakened flat, 8th of 13, 14 1/2l behind Finian's Oscar (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Tintern Theatre (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) Held up in 3rd place until dropped to last 8th, well outpaced when left remote 3rd bend after 11th, plugged on into 2nd run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Finian's Oscar (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f lst (1) gs in Oct.
