led, headed before 4 out, chased leader, mistake 3 out, at least 8 lengths down and looked held last, rallied gamely as leader idled badly after last, stayed on to lead close home
took keen hold, tracked leading trio until mistake and dropped rear 1st, never travelled or jumped with any fluency after, went remote 4th 12th, tailed off
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, not fluent and ridden 8th, mistake next, soon lost touch, tired when mistake 11th, pulled up before 13th
pressed leader, mistake 7th, challenged and not fluent 10th, led before 4 out, clear 2 out, at least 8 lengths ahead when went left and screwed last, lost all momentum and idled badly flat, headed close home
Nonrunner
OLD WIGMORE became disappointing after winning a maiden hurdle at Hereford last November but he's bred to be a chaser and is started off at a realistic level here. Rebecca Curtis' six-year-old gets the vote in receipt of 7lb from Liberate, who looked a novice to follow when scoring at Worcester in June but has gone backwards since and is closely matched with Comehomequietly on a line through Newton Abbot winner Chesapeake. Bobs Law should improve for the switch to fences and Thelobstercatcher is worth another try over the larger obstacles having improved markedly over timber since his last stab at chasing.
Comehomequietly (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Made virtually all, mistakes 10th and 13th, strongly challenged when hit 2 out, stayed on strongly closing stages, won at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in Aug beating Chesapeake (11-5) by 4l, 5 ran.
Bobs Law (IRE) 10-11fav (11-5) Led, headed after 6th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 6, 37l behind Lady Karinga (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Douglas 25-1 (10-12) Led to 4th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 6th of 12, well behind Shifting Gold (11-0) at Sedgefield 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Sep.
Fred Kennet 4-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, challenged approaching 3 out, led last, driven out, won at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Sep '09 beating Gilwen Glory (10-4) by 2l, 11 ran.
Old Wigmore (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Led, headed 8th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out, left in remote 4th 2 out, 4th of 7, 46l behind Swingkeel (10-13) at Ffos Las 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Liberate 6-1 (11-4) With leader, took keen hold, led 7th until 10th, led 13th, headed 4 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Chesapeake (11-4) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) gf in Sep.
Thelobstercatcher 14-1 (10-12) With leader, led 4th, headed next, led again 6th, hung left and headed approaching 3 out, faded, 10th of 17, well behind Liberate (10-9) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
