tracked leaders, lost place after 8th, hampered on bend after next, went well beaten 4th from 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 10th, led when jumped left last, headed and not much room flat, no impression towards finish
led until 3rd, led 5th, not fluent 4 out, headed when mistake last, no extra
held up, not fluent 7th, outpaced before 10th, well beaten 4 out
close up, lost place 3rd, headway 8th, went 2nd 4 out, challenging when not fluent last, led flat, edged left, driven out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th until 4 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up approaching last
prominent, led 3rd until 5th, lost place after next, headway 8th, outpaced before 10th, soon behind, tailed off
Nonrunner
Venetian Lad is a standing dish around here but looks too high in the weights after a recent victory at Plumpton. Long Wave is interesting as he's still relatively lightly-raced over fences and has a lot more scope than recent Towcester scorer Morestead but it's about time MILGEN BAY was winning one of these. McCoy takes over the reins from an amateur and Oliver Sherwood's charge almost managed to give 7lb to a very progressive sort in a hunter chase at Southwell last month. He's preferred to the erratic Marcus Antonius and the returning Porters War.
Venetian Lad 9-2 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 4 out, led just after next, hard ridden last, ran on well, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May beating Kastani Beach (11-4) by 6l, 11 ran.
Porters War (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, led 2 out, kept on well, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Dec beating Mister Wiseman (10-3) by 12l, 7 ran.
Milgen Bay 7-2 (11-11) Led to 4th, chased leaders, chased winner from 2 out, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Popaway (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in May.
Marcus Antonius 25-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, jumped right and bumped 2nd, went 3rd before 3 out, stayed on same pace, no impression on winner, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Malibu Sun (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Long Wave (IRE) 2-1fav (11-8) Chased leaders, took closer order 16th, under pressure after 4 out, soon weakened, modest 3rd, 3rd of 7, 29l behind High Ron (11-12) at Southwell 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Whispering Jack 8-1 (10-10) Led until 3 out, weakened quickly, 5th of 6, 34l behind Five Star Wilsham (11-8) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in May.
Morestead (IRE) 4-1 (10-0) Made all, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on gamely, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May beating Bertie's Desire (11-7) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Addiction 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders on inside, lost place 8th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Gaye Memories (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m mrs hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in May, 8 ran.