held up in touch until overjumped and fell 3rd
tracked leading pair, challenged on long run to 2 out, led going well approaching 2 out, clear last, very easily
tracked leading pair, headway bypassing 3 out, weakened after next, beaten when hit last
raced wide, chased leader, led 4th to approaching 6th, weakened before 2 out
Nonrunner
Bureaucrat has terms in his favour in this small field claiming hurdle but with doubts about his ability to act in these conditions we turn to L'EAU DU NIL, who was on form until losing his pilot last time and Gracechurch should also go close. Not always fluent in his jumping the selection placed in similar conditions in one of these races at Taunton last season. His two performances prior to his failure to complete last time make pleasing enough reading and this looks his trip. Bureaucrat was game to land a narrow success in a comparable event last time but all of his best has come on a sounder surface so we just oppose. Gracechurch ran well in defeat when finding just one to good on soft ground last time and he should go well here if in the same mood while Olivino is the only other to make any appeal but has form to overturn on the one we've just mentioned. Just the six runners but a tricky puzzle to solve, however, with heavy ground form in the bank L'eau Du Nil has to get the call.
Gracechurch (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, went 2nd approaching last, ridden flat, not quicken, 2nd of 11, 1l behind Bundle Up (10-0) at Chepstow 2m clm hdl (5) sft.
Bureaucrat 4-6fav (10-4) Tracked leaders, pulled hard, went 2nd after 6th, ridden to lead narrowly after 2 out, hanging right approaching last, headed flat, regained lead post (no time taken), won at Hereford 2m 4f sell (5) gd beating Little Firecracker (10-2) by ns, 7 ran.
Olivino (GER) 9-1 (10-7) Prominent, ridden approaching last, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 4 1/2l behind Bundle Up (10-0) at Chepstow 2m clm hdl (5) sft.
Zimbabwe 8-1 (10-4) Close up until lost place 8th, soon driven along, last at 14th, stayed on from 2 out, kept on into 3rd flat, almost snatched 2nd, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind Ray Mond (9-11) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Flowerbud 150-1 (10-8) Held up mid-division, lost place 3rd, 8th of 11, 17l behind Bundle Up (10-0) at Chepstow 2m clm hdl (5) sft.
L'Eau Du Nil (FR) 13-8fav (11-8) Held up towards rear, blundered badly and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Bundle Up (10-0) at Chepstow 2m clm hdl (5) sft, 11 ran.
