in touch, weakened from before 7 out, tailed off
behind, soon in touch, went 2nd before 2 out, kept on and always well held
led, headed 7 out, weakened from 4 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged 4 out, one pace in 3rd before 2 out
tracked leader, led 7 out, clear before last, kept on well
in rear and jumped slow, tailed off before 5 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
All eyes here will be on BLACK OP (NAP) as Tom George’s seven-year-old makes his debut over the larger obstacles. Second to Samcro in the Ballymore at Cheltenham in March, he went one better in a Grade 1 at Aintree the following month and could be poised to take high rank among this season’s novice chasers. I'm A Game Changer turned into a decent handicap hurdler last season but lacks the scope of the selection. His stablemate Show On The Road defends an unbeaten record around here while it will be fascinating to see how the four-year-olds Mercenaire and Sully D'oc Aa cope with fences given the former wasn’t the best jumper of hurdles. Kildisart won twice over timber last season but was no match for the selection at Aintree so course winner The Russian Doyen may prove best of the rest.
Aumit Hill 16-1 (12-0) (bl) a.p; chsd wnr 2 out; no ex flat, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Barfly (10-7) at Easingwold 3m mdn gs in May.
I'm A Game Changer (IRE) 3-1 (11-11) Pulled hard, led 1st and soon clear, came back to the field after 4th, headed approaching 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in, always held, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Ballymoy (11-12) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Over The Arch (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place after 7th, well beaten 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 15, dist behind Senior Citizen (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Show On The Road 9-2 (11-4) Chased leaders, driven to challenge 2 out, left in 3rd at last, weakened flat, 4th of 9, 7 1/2l behind Jersey Bean (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
The Russian Doyen (IRE) 18-1 (11-12) Chased leaders on inside, dropped to mid-division 2nd, effort before 2 out, no impression, weakened flat, 6th of 17, 22l behind Sam's Gunner (10-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Mercenaire (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Prominent, awkward 1st, soon led, headed 2nd, led 4th until 4 out, lost place before 2 out, 7th of 8, 21 1/2l behind Grand Sancy (11-3) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Black Op (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, led before not fluent 3 out, hard pressed 2 out, hit last and headed, soon led again, headed 120 yards out, stayed on well to regain lead towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr beating Lostintranslation (11-4) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Kildisart (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, hit 4th, ridden and struggling after 4 out, remote 10th before 3 out, soon well behind, 9th of 12, dist behind Black Op (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Minellatillmorning (IRE) 15-8fav (11-13) Tracked leaders, jumped left and not fluent 3rd, went 2nd 3 out, every chance next, no impression on winner last, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Heluvagood (10-4) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Sully D'Oc Aa (FR) (11-2) won at Pau 2m 1f gd in Dec beating Entree De Jeu Aa (9-13) by 14l, 8 ran.
