took keen hold, jumped left, tracked leader until mistake and unseated rider 3rd
tended to jump left, led, ridden and joined after 3 out, headed last, led towards finish, headed last stride
sometimes jumped left, held up, left 2nd 3rd, challenged on inside after 3 out, driven to lead last, headed towards finish, rallied to lead last stride
A shocking turnout but that won't bother connections of BEAR'S AFFAIR. Nicky Henderson's charge, unbeaten in three bumpers last season, went to Aintree for his chasing debut last month but could only finish last of the four behind Champion Court, who he had beaten on his debut at Uttoxeter last year. He pulled very hard and made a mistake that appeared to unsettle him but will have learnt from the experience and this looks an easy option. Canni Thinkaar has been placed three times over fences on this track and has won six times over hurdles so any major errors by the likely favourite may not go unpunished but Master Darcy will need to finish alone if he's to gain his first success in 15 racecourse appearances.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 9-4 (11-3) Took keen hold, jumped right, prominent, mistake 11th, last next, not fluent and outpaced from 4 out, stayed on flat, no impression, last of 4, 15l behind Champion Court (11-3) at Aintree 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Canni Thinkaar (IRE) 9-2 (11-1) Tracked leader, led 5th, headed 9th, soon pushed along and lost place, rallied 11th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 6, well behind Prince Des Marais (11-11) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar.
Master Darcy 10-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, steady headway 10th, disputing 3rd when blundered 3 out, soon weakened and eased, 4th of 8, 33l behind Tae Kwon Do (11-9) at Plumpton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sep.
