led, strongly pressed 2 out, headed last, rallied gamely in closing stages, just held
took keen hold, held up towards rear, struggling in 6th before 4 out, never involved
took keen hold tracking leading pair, went 2nd at 7th, driven before 4 out, every chance 2 out, switched left before last, kept on same pace flat
chasing leading pair when blundered rider lost iron briefly and lost place 1st, in touch in 5th, not fluent 6th, pushed along outpaced in 5th and no chance when blundered 4 out and 2 out, tired and went badly right last
held up in rear, headway to handy 5th at 7th, went 3rd approaching 12th, challenging and every chance 2 out, disputing close 2nd and still chance when blundered last, one pace flat, kept pressiing for 3rd
tracked leader, hampered 4th, lost 2nd approaching 12th, driven and weakened 13th, tailed off
chased leadrs, weakened 12th, soon struggling, tailed off
towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 9th
took keen hold, held up in rear, slow and ridden 10th, reminders 12th, headway approaching 14th, chased leaders in 4th before 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, led last, driven out, held on
Bishophill Jack won at Towcester in the spring but looks high enough in the weights ahead of his reappearance. David Pipe saddles both BASIL FAWLTY and Standing Ovation with Tom Scudamore riding the former, who won at Worcester in June and was close up behind eventual winner Whistling Senator when falling on a return visit in July. His jumping is obviously a concern but he's 14lb better off with Jonjo O'Neill's charge and is worth an interest on that basis alone. Ballyvesey is very one-paced but had Health Is Wealth behind when second at Plumpton and can confirm the form. Qianshan Leader is potentially well treated but hard to predict and Violets Boy may struggle to stay this far.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 9-2 (11-4) In touch in 5th, lost place 10th, ridden and struggling before 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Life Of A Luso (11-10) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Sep, 8 ran.
Violets Boy (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Prominent, ridden in 3rd 4 out, weakening when hampered next, 4th of 9, 42l behind Sergeant Pink (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Sep.
Whistling Senator (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 2nd, led 8th, ridden after 4 out, hit next, soon headed, beaten last, no extra, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Watch House (9-11) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sep.
Bishophill Jack (IRE) 7-2fav (11-3) Prominent, mistake 10th, led after 2 out, mistake last, headed flat, carried left, brushed by rival towards finish, stayed on, just held (finished 2nd placed 1st), won at Towcester 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May beating Rebel Swing (10-10) by hd, 8 ran.
Basil Fawlty (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Western King (11-9) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Sep, 8 ran.
Ballyvesey (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leader, led before 11th, driven along before 4 out and after 3 out, soon headed outpaced and no chance with winner, kept on for 2nd, 2nd of 8, 21l behind Old Dreams (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sep.
Health Is Wealth (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Held up, headway to chase leaders 6th, went 2nd 11th until well before 2 out, stayed on pressing for 2nd but no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 24l behind Old Dreams (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Sep.
Mister Moonax (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, dropped to 4th from 4th, pushed along next and lost place, soon outpaced, kept on from before 2 out, went 3rd from last, no impression, 3rd of 7, 15l behind Tarvini (11-2) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Aug.
Standing Ovation (IRE) 7-4fav (10-3) Tracked leaders, fell 2nd, in a race won by Watch House (9-11) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sep, 5 ran.
