held up in rear, chased leaders under pressure 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, ridden and kept on flat, not reach front pair
prominent on outside, led after 5 out, mistake and joined 3 out, soon headed, every chance in 2nd when fell next
tracked leader, driven in 3rd approaching 4 out, left 1 length 2nd 2 out, led after last, ridden out flat
held up in 4th, went 2nd before 4 out, challenged next, soon led, left 1 length clear 2 out, headed after last, kept on, held flat
led, headed after 5 out, weakened 3 out
held up in 5th, outpaced when mistake 4 out, never on terms
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Sparville got off the mark at Southwell at the second time of asking over fences. He's likely to improve further and should make another bold bid. He makes more appeal than the mare Smiling Lady while Bay Central and Wester Ross have become disappointing. DINEUR has been well beaten in two runs over fences so far and you could argue that he probably needs further than this. But he's throw in on his form over hurdles and Peter Bowen's charge has probably been waiting for the ground to dry out. He could be a blot on the handicap if fully primed. Piment D'Estruval has won three times over the larger obstacles and is another who'll enjoy the going, though he looks a shade high in the weights ahead of his return.
Piment D'estruval (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, hampered 1st, mistake 6th, headway approaching 3 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, 3rd of 13, 13l behind Sporting Boy (11-7) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Sparville (IRE) 5-2 (11-12) With leader, led 3rd, not fluent 7th, headed next, led 4 out, clear 2 out, ridden out, won at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr beating Fiftyonefiftyone (11-9) by 5l, 8 ran.
Dineur (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Mid-division, lost place 10th, soon struggling, tailed off 5 out, 7th of 10, well behind Triptico (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Dec.
True Blue (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 4th, led before 3 out, pressed 2 out, headed narrowly and still with every chance when fell last, in a race won by Be Definite (11-9) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Nov, 6 ran.
Bay Central (IRE) 16-1 (9-11) Pulled very hard, soon prominent, led 2nd, headed 4 out, weakened after next, rallied last, kept on, 4th of 7, 9l behind King Edmund (11-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Smiling Lady (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 7th, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, one pace, 3rd of 6, 10l behind Queen Of Mantua (10-12) at Towcester 2m 3f mrs nov chs (5yo+) (4) gd in Apr.
Wester Ross (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up, behind until closed after 4th, close 4th when not fluent 3 out, mistake 2 out, hung right and went 3rd last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Be My Deputy (11-11) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Sophonie (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) Chased leader, led after 3 out, headed before 2 out where jumped left, no extra last, 4th of 7, 23l behind Bobby Dove (9-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
