held up well in rear, never involved
chased leader, led 3rd, soon headed, dived pecked 5th and lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened 12th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up after 14th
held up towards rear, steady headway on inside 11th, closer in 5th next, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened
towards rear most of way, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before last
mid-division, headway chasing leaders 6th, weakened before 4 out
led until 3rd, chased leaders, blundered and behind 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders on inside, pushed along in 3rd before 4 out, went 2nd between last 2, strong challenge run-in, just held
went to post early, led in start and well away, chased leaders, headway to lead after 3rd, went clear 14th, reduced lead and headed 2 out where mistake, weakened between last 2, lost 3rd run-in
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th until before 3 out, chased leaders, 3rd and held when slipped on landing and unseated rider 2 out
towards rear, some headway in 5th 4 out, left modest 4th 2 out, went 3rd run-in
chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, went 2nd before 3 out, closed to lead next, soon clear, reduced lead last, all out
Virginia Chick was surprisingly easy to back here last week considering he’d run well on his chasing bow. He has earned a penalty for that success but Isobel Williams again claims 7lb and he’ll be 2lb higher from next week. Rock My Style was let down by his jumping last season but still has untapped potential. Southern Sam easily landed the odds in a hurdle in May and looks every inch a chaser but CLOUDY GLEN is another very interesting newcomer to fences. Venetia Williams’ charge was much improved over timber last season and should continue on an upward curve. Notachance was only beaten a nose at Southwell and De Name Evades Me was well ahead of subsequent course winner Golden Sunrise at Chepstow in a race in which Truckin Away was pulled up. Worthy Farm is surely better than he showed at Worcester.
Virginia Chick (FR) 14-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, headway after 5 out, led before last, hard ridden, stayed on strongly, won at Exeter 3m (2) sft in Nov beating Commodore Barry (11-1) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Golden Sunrise (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Made all, raced quite wide on the bends, hit 6th, mistake 10th, ridden out, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Portway Flyer (10-11) by 3 3/4l, 10 ran.
Truckin Away (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Jumped right at times, led, headed 4 out, lost place before next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Oct.
Lithic (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, headway after 3 out, jumped right 2 out, went 3rd flat, stayed on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 11, 7 3/4l behind Bob Mahler (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Worthy Farm (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Handy to 1st, in touch in mid-division, ridden after 12th, soon lost place, 7th of 9, 14 3/4l behind Know The Score (10-11) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Rock My Style (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Not fluent 1st, soon towards rear and not travel well, reminder after 10th, never a threat, lost touch before 5 out, soon pulled up, at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
De Name Evades Me (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, pushed along before 5 out, ridden to lead next, headed before 2 out, kept on, no impression with front pair after last, 3rd of 6, 7 1/4l behind Ardlethen (11-0) at Chepstow 3m (3) gs in Oct.
Cloudy Glen (IRE) 1-8fav (11-6) Made all, shaken up after last, easily, won at Carlisle 2m 3f (3) hvy in Mar beating Mill Race King (11-1) by 5l, 4 ran.
Captain Drake (IRE) 15-8fav (11-2) Held up in mid-division, ridden before 9th, struggling after, well beaten before 4 out, mistake 3 out, 7th of 8, dist behind Diablo De Rouhet (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Southern Sam 1-5fav (10-12) Led until after 2nd, chased leader, in front again approaching 4 out, joined 2 out, stayed on to assert from last, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in May beating Staged Engagement (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Notachance (IRE) 7-2jfav (11-11) Going well in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 5th, led 2 out, stayed on gamely, headed post, 2nd of 9, shd behind Fortescue (11-4) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
