tracked winner, switched left before 5th, not fluent 12th, led before 3 out, clear 2 out, 7 lengths ahead last, caught close home
held up rear of mid-division, not fluent 12th, pushed along after next, effort from 5 out, 4th and no impression last
held up in rear, hampered 3rd, well beaten 5 out
towards rear, pushed along and headway after 13th, no impression, weakened 5 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, hit 1st and lost place, hampered 3rd, closed after 7th, outpaced 5 out, stayed on flat and disputing 2nd, 3rd and held towards finish
held up in touch, closed 5 out, outpaced after 4 out, weakened from next
jumped right, led until before 3 out where mistake, 7 lengths down last, stayed on flat, led close home
held up towards rear, closed before 3rd, not fluent next, lost place after 13th, well beaten from 5 out
chased leaders, fell 3rd
NonRunner
Cyclop, the senior runner among this field of veterans, appears to have the beating of De Rasher Counter and Chirico Vallis on a couple of wins in similar races at Newbury in March. Good Boy Bobby hasn’t shown his best form for a while but was only beaten a head by AYE RIGHT in the 2021 Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle and is 8lb better off. However the latter, a newcomer to these type of events, ran well on his reappearance last year and can confirm the form. Landofsmiles has won three times this year but is now on a career-high mark while Danny Kirwan has had a wind operation since last seen in May. Thomas Darby is interesting as he is far less exposed over fences than his rivals and was second in a Grade 2 hurdle returning from a break last season..
Aye Right (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Led narrowly, not fluent 6th and headed, remained prominent, lost position 11th and pushed along, beaten 3 out, plugged on, 4th of 6, 26l behind Shishkin (11-10) at Ascot 2m 5f (1) gs in Feb.
Thomas Darby (IRE) 20-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, not fluent 11th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten from 3 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Gerri Colombe (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
De Rasher Counter 5-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, chased leader until 14th, chased leaders, pushed along after 5 out, jumped slowly and lost place next, behind and never on terms after, went remote 4th at the last, 4th of 5, 19 1/2l behind Cyclop (10-11) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Landofsmiles (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, bumped and lost place 4th, headway 9th, led after 12th, ridden after final bend, stayed on well, won at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (3) gs in Aug beating Dee Star (10-10) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Cyclop (IRE) 22-1 (12-0) Handy on rail, hit 9th, dropped to rear 4 out and pushed along, left in 3rd 3 out, kept on and took 2nd final fence, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Wasdell Dundalk (10-2) at Perth 3m hcp (2) hvy in Sep.
Danny Kirwan (IRE) 6-1 (12-1) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, shaken up before 3 out, ridden along next, no extra and weakened after 2 out, 7th of 12, 32 3/4l behind Latitude (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Good Boy Bobby (IRE) 17-2 (12-0) Held up off the pace in rear, pushed along to improve after 4 out, ridden along after 3 out, kept on until no extra close home, lost fourth final strides, 5th of 12, 13 3/4l behind Latitude (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 13-2 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 14th, no impression 3 out, 13th of 16, dist behind Twig (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jul.
Chirico Vallis (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Led until before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, dist behind Dee Star (10-2) at Cartmel 3m 5f hcp (3) gd in May.
Court Master (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Led, joined 14th, reached at next and unseated rider, at Bangor-on-Dee 3m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
