tracked leaders, pecked 3rd, mistake and ridden 7th, soon weakened, mistake 3 out, tailed off
held up in touch in rear, went 3rd before 3 out, no impression, tailed off
led, not fluent 7th or when headed 3 out, well held by winner before 2 out
prominent, went 2nd after 4th until before 7th, mistake and ridden 7th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
prominent, not fluent 4th, challenged 7th, led 3 out, clear before next, ridden out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Only Cabimas among these has been in action over hurdles recently but ROWAN TIGER ran very well on the Polytrack 10 days ago and is 10lb better off than when finishing fourth to the useful Paintball in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in March. Richard Newland's charge may be a bit better than his current handicap mark and gets the vote. Nataani is chasing a hat-trick after wins at Worcester and Bangor in the summer, as is High Storm who won at Ffos Las and Stratford in May, though both take on better opposition now. Karasenir and Oscar Davy are also useful but may just need this.
Paintball (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway before 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 9th of 19, 15l behind Red Merlin (11-3) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in May.
Cabimas 11-8 (11-5) Took keen hold, tracked leader, hit 3 out, led soon after, ridden before next, headed between last 2, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Special Account (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Sep.
Oscar Davy (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Held up, not fluent 4th, headway 5th, chased winner 7th, no impression, 3rd and well held before 3 out, not fluent last, 3rd of 8, 28l behind Same Difference (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr.
High Storm (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Chased leader, led 2 out, hung left from before last, ridden and stayed on well closing stages, won at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Dance Tempo (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Rowan Tiger 33-1 (9-10) Towards rear on inner, headway before 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 24, 9l behind Paintball (10-7) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gs in Mar.
Karasenir (IRE) 15-8 (11-5) Led, stumbled 1st, headed next, chased leader until dropped to rear 6th, reminders next, struggling and no chance before 3 out, last of 4, 19l behind Just Victor (10-6) at Stratford 2m 4f Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gf in Oct '11.
Nataani (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Towards rear, reminders 10th, ridden to chase leaders before 2 out, led before last, kept on, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Jul beating Ixora (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
