jumped left throughout, led, clear 3rd, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, soon weakened, hit 3 out
soon chasing leader, jumped slowly 1st and 2nd, not fluent 9th, soon driven along, led approaching 4 out, stayed on gamely, ridden out
held up, disputing 4th when fell 8th
held up, steady headway from 12th, pressed winner from 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon ridden, every chance last, no extra
chased leaders until weakened quickly approaching 13th, pulled up before 4 out
never travelling in rear, lost touch from 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up, some headway to go poor 4th approaching 4 out, never troubled leaders
in touch, mistake 8th, weakened after 12th
tailed off from 9th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
We follow our birthday wishes to Stuart Dawe by suggesting Presence Of Mind in this race, with his main dangers given as Menphis Beury, Prince Highlight, Lodestar and, possibly, Old Buddy. The selection improved for a first-time visor last when jumping well to win at Huntingdon. Much as that was not a strong race, he can go well from the same mark with the key to him now possibly having been found. Menphis Beury is only a five-year-old so is entitled to be improving, and that is what he appears to be doing, so he has to be respected, even though he is 10 pounds higher than for his Doncaster win. Prince Highlight is now edging back towards a winning mark and his form of the autumn would see him go well today. Tom Sayers came good at Taunton last time, but will need to build on that again. Glashedy Rock has not put it all together yet, while Classic China has struggled of late from his current mark. Lodestar improved for the application of blinkers last time, although his two main rivals may not have stayed on that occasion and he has been raised 11 pounds for the victory, while Kittenkat ran well here over an extended trip and, therefore, is capable of running well from her current rating. The downside is that she does not win too often. Fearless Mel battled well at Taunton to win off a five-pound lower mark two runs ago, but did not fare so well from his revised rating, and the lightly-raced Old Buddy is one that seems capable of putting up a good show from low in the weights. Overall, though, we will stick with Presence Of Mind.
Running Hot 12-1 Led, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakening when hit 3 out, 5th of 7, 20l behind Barton Hill at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (E) gs.
Kittenkat 11-1 Always prominent, led 8th until 13th, chased leaders, ridden after 17th, stayed on flat, 3rd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Toulouse-Lautrec at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs.
Fearless Mel (IRE) 9-2 Led until 9th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 12, well behind Yann's at Taunton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Jan.
Menphis Beury (FR) 7-2 Fell in race won by Red Devil Robert at Stratford 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) sft, 10 ran.
Prince Highlight (IRE) 50-1 Pulled hard, held up, headway 10th, ridden after 17th, weakened quickly, 15th of 16, well behind Toulouse-Lautrec at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs.
Glashedy Rock (IRE) 14-1 Held up, headway after 11th, disputing 4th when fell at the 14th in race won by Kenzo Iii at Ludlow 3m beg chs (E) gs in Feb, 10 ran.
Classic China 12-1 Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 16, 28l behind Sword Lady at Taunton 3m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gs in Feb.
Old Buddy (IRE) 9-2co-fav Mid-division until 6th, soon behind, pulled up before 10th pulled up at the 10th in race won by Miss Wizadora at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs, 11 ran.
My Bold Boyo 28-1 Always behind, tailed off and pulled up in race won by Claude Greengrass at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Lodestar (IRE) 15-2 Led, headed briefly 12th, led again before 13th, pressed 2 out, in command approaching last, won at Kempton 3m nov hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Jan beating Kew Jumper by 13l, 8 ran.
Tom Sayers (IRE) 7-2 Made all, drew clear from 4 out, easily, won at Taunton 3m chs (F) gf beating Adalie by 10l, 7 ran.
Presence of Mind (IRE) 9-2 Led, headed 6th, led again 11th, jumped right last 2, ran on flat, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-95 (F) gd beating York Rite by 5l, 11 ran.
