prominent when jumped slowly 1st, in touch until dropped rear 4th, reminders after 9th, outpaced from 11th, took modest 4th closing stages
led until 4th, led 7th until approaching 4 out, 3rd and weakening when dived right 3 out, tailed off
always prominent, led 4th until 7th, led approaching 4 out, in command before last, stayed on well
held up in rear, outpaced in 5th after 11th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, hit 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway 3rd, not fluent 8th, soon ridden along, outpaced from 11th
held up in rear, jumped slowly 8th, soon pushed along, struggling 10th, tailed off
in touch, chased winner 4 out, edged left under pressure after 2 out, no impression flat
Nonrunner
GENTLE GEORGE looks to have everything in his favour here and is selected to beat Thirtytwo Red, Bishy Barnaby and Ask Again. The selection has to give weight away all around, but looks capable of doing so. He is officially rated well clear of all his nine opponents, and he was good enough to finish a 12-length fourth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters' Chase last month. Trip and ground suit, and with a good pilot up he will take plenty of beating. Thirtytwo Red also acts on a sound surface and stays very well, but in truth he should not have the pace to trouble the selection, and he has around a stone to find with him. Bishy Barnaby and Ask Again have both been in fine form in points of late, so they come here with confidence high and may be able to show more than they have on previous racecourse visits. Brook Castle also stays well and goes on the ground, and is another who comes here in form, but Gentle George gets a confident vote.
Gentle George 10-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, lost place 16th, outpaced 4 out, 7th 2 out, ridden and stayed on well from last, no impression, 4th of 24, 12l behind Baby Run (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gs in Mar.
Apollo Blaze (IRE) 40-1 (11-11) Led 2nd, led again 12th, headed approaching last, soon weakened, 5th of 13, 15l behind Oranger (11-9) at Stratford 2m 7f nov hts chs (5) gf in Mar.
Ask Again 4-6 (12-0) Ap; led 12; drew clr flat, won at Hackwood Park 3m ptp gd beating Top Ram (12-0) by 8l, 5 ran.
Brook Castle (IRE) 11-4 (12-0) Ap; led 3 out; ro wl, won at Kilworthy 3m ptp sft in Mar beating Lisheen Storm (12-0) by 6l, 9 ran.
Crofton (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway to track leaders 5th, under pressure 4 out, weakened after next, 4th of 9, 31l behind Mic Aubin (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) hvy in Mar.
Red Ringa 16-1 (12-0) Prom til wknd qckly aft 12; to, 3rd of 10, 50l behind Charm Of Gold (11-7) at Didmarton 3m ptp gf in Mar.
Therecessionbeater (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Led to 9 & 12-15; led 3 out; sn clr, won at Black Forest Lodge 3m ptp gs in Mar beating Light Touch (12-0) by 8l, 13 ran.
Thirtytwo Red (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Held up; hdwy to ld 8; hdd 3 out; rallied to ld app last; kpt on game, won at Kingston St Mary 3m ptp gs beating Napolitain (12-0) by 4l, 5 ran.
Bishy Barnaby (IRE) 1-2 (12-0) Ww; qcknd to ld flat; rdly, won at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Dutch Bill (12-0) by 2l, 4 ran.
Captain Machell (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) (cp) led til hdd aft blun 3 out; sn outpcd, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Pimbury (12-0) at Bishops Court 3m ptp gs in Mar.
