chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up in touch, chased leaders approaching 4 out, kept on approaching 2 out
towards rear, weakened 11th
held up in touch, pushed along 13th, blundered next, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 14th, chased leaders 5 out, led 2 out, clear approaching last
chased leaders, weakened 12th
held up, mistake 9th and 10th, headway 4 out, one pace
led, pushed along after 5 out, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened next
held up, making steady progress in touch when fell 3 out
towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake and unseated rider 8th
held up towards rear, blundered 3 out, stayed on from 2 out
towards rear, mistake 9th, weakened 13th, pulled up before 5 out
tracked leaders, weakened 5 out
chased leaders, weakened after 11th
held up mid-division, tracked leaders 5 out, led approaching 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened flat
tracked leaders, joined leader 10th, weakened 4 out
Nonrunner
The presence of Snoopy Loopy means that two thirds of the field have to race from out of the weights which further complicates this hot race. BOYCHUK, Fire And Rain and Nostringsattached are our three to go to war with and we'll opt for the Hobbs runner. Boychuk was a decent hurdler who made a decent start to his chasing career in 2006 but he went through the whole of 2007 and 2008 without winning. He set that record straight when winning impressively at Cheltenham in April on his first start since October when travelling more sweetly than had often been the case. He clearly goes well fresh and has a nice racing weight. Fire And Rain landed a touch in the Summer National where plenty of use was made of him. He's still unexposed and may not be easy to pass if similar tactics are employed. Nostringsattached produced a remarkable rally to land a big prize at Market Rasen and will have to do without the assistance of McCoy but his conditional's claim means that he'll be able to race from his correct mark. Hoo La Baloo is versatile with regards to the trip and has been given half a chance by the handicapper; he ran a fair race from this mark last time when finishing one place in front of Backstage and well ahead of Market Rasen runner-up Keepitsecret and Coq Hardi and should go close again but Boychuk is our choice to scoop the pot.
Snoopy Loopy (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Close up, blundered 3rd, blundered 7th, weakened from 5 out, 5th of 10, 30l behind Madison Du Berlais (11-10) at Aintree 3m 1f chs G 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Hoo La Baloo (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, every chance 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Star of Germany (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gf.
Church Island (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Led, mistake 8th, headed from 4 out, soon lost place and weakened, 14th of 15, 50l behind Themoonandsixpence (11-2) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-140 in Jul.
Out The Black (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Tracked winner, every chance after 4 out, soon ridden and one pace, 3rd of 17, 7l behind Hello Bud (10-9) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Backstage (FR) 14-1 (11-3) In touch, ridden and switched right approaching 3 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 15, 6l behind Star of Germany (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gf.
Boychuk (IRE) 17-2 (11-3) Chased leaders, led after 15th, soon clear, stayed on, driven out flat, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr beating Obaki de Grissay (10-9) by 7l, 12 ran.
Coq Hardi (FR) 25-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, not always fluent, struggling approaching 4 out, never dangerous, 8th of 15, 20l behind Star of Germany (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gf.
Fire And Rain (FR) 7-1 (11-3) Led early, remained close up, led after 13th, ridden approaching last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 3m 4f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Jun beating The King of Angels (11-1) by 4l, 17 ran.
Keepitsecret (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway on outside after 9th, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, 39l behind Star of Germany (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gf.
Hold Em (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, weakened 8th, mistake 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Nostringsattached (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Jul, 16 ran.
Cool Running (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Mid-division, 12th 5 out, headway on inner after 3 out, 6th when hampered last, soon no extra, 8th of 20, 18l behind Ballyholland (10-9) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs sft in Jul.
Nostringsattached (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway after 11th, outpaced before 3 out, rallying and still disputing modest 4th when not fluent last, stayed on strongly under maximum pressure flat, forced ahead post, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Jul beating Keepitsecret (11-8) by shd, 16 ran.
On The Other Hand (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Mid-division, 8th 6 out, 9th and no extra 4 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Natal (11-3) at Galway 2m 6f chs sft in Jul, 14 ran.
Justpourit (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, 5th approaching 3 out, soon ridden, dropped to 6th early straight, soon no extra, kept on same pace, 7th of 20, 14l behind Ballyholland (10-9) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs sft in Jul.
Seymar Lad (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, led 2 out, driven out flat, won at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun beating Some Craic (10-7) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mr Robert (IRE) 13-2 (11-9) Mid-division, headway 8th led going best 3 out, no mistake 2 out, ran on flat, ridden out, won at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jul beating Romantic Bridge (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Warpath (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) Tracked leader, pushed along after 6th, ridden to lead after next, headed last, weakened flat, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Star of Germany (10-8) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jul.
War Of The World (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders mainly 5th on outer, headway to lead after 4 out, ridden and joined 2 out, soon headed, no extra from last, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Montero (11-10) at Limerick 2m 6f chs gd in Jul.
