held up in last pair, hit 7th, headway approaching 4 out, soon went 3rd, stayed on same pace, unable to challenge
tracked leader until approaching 4 out, soon beaten, weakened 3 out
led, edged right and ridden after 3 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace flat
raced in last pair, not fluent 8th, lost touch from 11th, tailed off 4 out, fell at fence soon after
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st or 8th, went 2nd and jumped right from 4 out, led approaching 2 out, driven clear final 100 yards
Castletownsend has already won between the flags and it's likely he'll leave his hurdles form behind now tackling fences. Paul Nicholls' charge has to go on the short-lists here but this may be an insufficient test of stamina and we'll take him on with TARKARI, who came right back to form over hurdles at Southwell and is worth another chance over the larger obstacles now he's a little older. Art Broker is a useful hurdler and better than he showed at Newton Abbot last month while Present To You has plenty of experience over fences, though is still struggling to get his head in front.
Art Broker (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd 8th until 10th, driven and outpaced in 3rd before 3 out, no extra in 4th next, 4th of 8, 34l behind Merrion Square (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m beg chs (5) gf in Jul.
Castletownsend (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) In touch, headway to chase leaders 5th, went 2nd 3 out until before 2 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 14, 42l behind Fear Glic (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Present To You (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Prominent, ridden 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Lucy's Legend (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Steel Gold (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) In rear, struggling 6th, pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Serve Time (11-2) at Limerick 2m 6f nov chs gd in Jul '11, 6 ran.
Tarkari (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, ridden between last 2, hard pressed last, stayed on under pressure flat, just held on near finish, won at Southwell 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Jul beating Dubai Crest (11-12) by nk, 11 ran.
With Grace 5-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out, soon weakened and eased, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Nataani (11-5) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Jul.