led, blundered 8th, narrowly headed 15th, chased winner until pushed along before 5 out, weakened quickly, went remote 4th
tracked leaders, went 2nd approaching 5 out, ridden and well held when lost 2nd next, no extra in 3rd, awkward last
jumped well, tracked leader, led 15th, great jump 5 out, in no danger after, kept up to work after the last, eased towards finish
virtually refused to race and soon pulled up
waited with in rear, steady headway 14th, 3rd before 5 out, went 2nd 4 out, stayed on same pace no chance with winner
raced wide, chasing leaders, bad mistake and weakened 14th, behind and no chance after
Mr Washington has been pulled up in both previous starts over fences and The Macon Lugnatic is 0-5 over the larger obstacles but Farouk De Cheneau has found only one too good at Bangor and Southwell and Aeronisi won at Fontwell in March. The chasing newcomers EARTH BUSINESS and Manothepeople both have solid claims at the weights. The latter would have preferred much softer conditions so the former, who has had a pipe-opener over timber, gets the nod.
Farouk De Cheneau (FR) 11-4 (11-9) Tracked leader, pressed leader and hit 4 out, slight lead 2 out, headed and not pace of winner at the last, driven and one pace run-in, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Kinondo Kwetu (11-9) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
The Macon Lugnatic 11-8fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, pushed along before 2 out, mistake 2 out, no impression when not fluent last, faded run-in, 3rd of 6, 8 1/4l behind Valentino (10-2) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in May.
Manothepeople (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Made all, joined omitted 2 out, clear before omitted last, stayed on strongly, unchallenged (all three hurdles in home straight omitted due to low sun, only five hurdles in total jumped), won at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Highstakesplayer (12-3) by 5l, 7 ran.
Earth Business (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Midfield, outpaced 3 out, plugged on through beaten rivals from 2 out, 5th of 14, 23 3/4l behind Wavering Down (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Aeronisi (IRE) 7-2 (11-10) Held up in rear, mistake 2nd, not fluent 7th, closed after 11th, 3rd 4 out, blundered 3 out, switched right and went 2nd after 2 out, challenged last, driven flat, led towards finish, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Mar beating Twenty Twenty (12-2) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Mr Washington (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) In rear, in touch, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace, never on terms, 5th of 7, 24l behind Milan Bridge (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
