held up in touch, struggling 5 out, modest 4th next, no chance with leaders after, tailed off
tracked leaders, led 4th to 8th, led again 10th, headed after 5 out, ridden 2 out, soon no chance with front pair, tailed off
led to 4th, tracked leaders, mistake 9th, behind from next, tailed off 5 out, soon pulled up
held up in touch on outside, weakened 5 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, 3rd and reminders after 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, soon challenged, led approaching last, driven out flat
with leader, led 8th, mistake next, not fluent and headed 10th, led again after 5 out, hard pressed after 3 out, headed when not fluent last, no impression flat
chased leaders, reminders after 10th, weakened 5 out, soon tailed off and pulled up
Nonrunner
Tom Bach is best watched following a lengthy break. Miss Biscotti lacks experience but belied her odds with a fair second at Bangor and this is probably a weaker contest. Louis Phillipe had Bob Will well behind when scoring at Newton Abbot but there's no guarantee he'll reproduce that run here off an 8lb higher mark. MAGICAL MAN is 7lb higher than when successful over course and distance in the autumn but has held in his own in better company since and could be poised to pick up the winning thread again.
Hopstrings 10-1 (11-1) Held up, awkward and reminder 7th, pushed along before next, behind 11th, 5th of 6, well behind Paddy The Oscar (11-8) at Chepstow 3m cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Miss Biscotti 33-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, led 5th, hampered by loose horse next, headed before 5 out, outpaced after 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, no impression, 2nd of 11, 3 1/2l behind Mor Brook (11-8) at Bangor 2m 4f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd.
Tom Bach (IRE) 9-4fav (10-4) Led until 2nd, pressed leader, led again 4th, hit 7th, blundered 2 out, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly (no time taken), won at Ffos Las 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Apr '14 beating The Last Bridge (10-13) by 6l, 7 ran.
Magical Man 11-2 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 11th, driven along in 7th and plenty to do before 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd run-in, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Midnight Request (11-4) at Exeter 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Patricktom Boru (IRE) 6-4 (12-0) Chall & hit 2 out; ro flat; just failed, 2nd of 3, hd behind Divine Intavention (12-7) at Tredegar Farmers 3m ptp gf.
Louis Phillipe (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) With leader, went 2nd 3 out, ridden before 2 out, led last, kept on well, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gf in Apr beating Head Spin (11-12) by 5l, 10 ran.
Bob Will (IRE) 8-1 (10-2) Led to 4th, tracked leaders, went 4th before 2 out, one pace, 4th of 10, 20l behind Louis Phillipe (10-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gf in Apr.
Celtic Fella (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd before 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 34l behind Ballyegan (9-7) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
