in touch in rear, jumped bit 5th, fell 9th
led, headed 4 out, ridden next, left 3rd approaching last
in touch, headway 3 out, ridden 2 out, left 2nd before last, kept on same pace
prominent, led 4 out, ridden 2 out, left clear approaching last
close up, not fluent 6th, dropped to rear 13th, slow next, behind 4 out, left remote 4th before last
tracked leaders, dropped to rear 9th, headway 13th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, pulled up quickly before last
Having run well in the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir at Cheltenham, Actinpieces had probably gone over the top when unplaced at Uttoxeter in May. She goes well fresh and won this last year, though is now 8lb higher. It’s more than two years since BALLYKAN was last in the winner’s enclosure but he still boasts a decent strike-rate. He was second off this mark in the Grade 3 Betdaq Chase at Kempton back in February and a repeat of that effort would suffice. Hogan's Height did well last term, winning three times, but this will be his first run since finishing tailed off in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April. This trip is probably too far for Midnight Shot but he has been in better form lately.
Actinpieces 12-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, bumped 2nd, pushed along and weakened before 5 out, 9th of 17, 34 3/4l behind Minellacelebration (10-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (2) gd in May.
Hogan's Height (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Held up behind, struggling 14th, never a threat, tailed off 4 out, 6th of 9, dist behind Terrefort (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Ballykan 14-1 (10-7) Held up behind, headway 5 out, challenged 3 out, led next, ridden and headed before last, readily outpaced by winner flat, 2nd of 15, 3 3/4l behind Master Dee (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp (1) gd in Feb.
Midnight Shot 9-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, challenged after 5 out, led narrowly next, headed 3 out, soon one pace, ridden and no impression before last, 5th of 13, 9l behind Javert (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Gallery Exhibition (IRE) 50-1 (11-11) Unseated rider 1st, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Carlos Du Fruitier (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Mid-division on outside, struggling after 5 out, never near leaders, weakened next, 11th of 13, dist behind Javert (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
