chased leaders, mistake 5th, lost place 12th, hit 15th, one pace from 4 out, left 3rd 2 out
led, hit 7th, narrow advantage when fell 2 out
chased leaders, hit 3rd, blundered 9th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up after 13th
held up, smooth progress to track leaders 11th, left in lead and mistake 2 out, no fluent last, ridden out
held up, reminders 13th, brief effort 15th, weakened before 3 out, left 4th 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd and hit 14th, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up, headway to track leaders after 13th, every chance 3 out, 3rd and held when left 2nd 2 out
A good race sees Latimer's Place, Cowboyboots and Deferlant shortlisted, with the vote going to Latimer's Place. Despite having been raised six pounds for his recent course and distance success, Cowboyboots remains competitive, as does Latimer's Place, who has been raised for his Sandown win, where he looked to have been freshened up by new connections. If sweetened up by his new surroundings then Whitford Don, who has a good chance on his old form, could be interesting, while Deferlant scored in facile fashion here last time and remains well weighted based on his best hurdling form. Mr Dow Jones continues to defy his years and is not ruled out of a good run in his hat-trick bid, while Ashgreen has proven that he can go well fresh and, with his stable in good form, cannot be ruled out. Overall, though, the vote stays with Latimer's Place.
Cowboyboots (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (11-5) Prominent, led 4th, made rest, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd beating Sungates (10-10) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Latimer's Place 11-4 (11-12) Led 3rd, made rest, hit 3 out, stayed on strongly, readily, won at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf beating Bubble Boy (11-2) by 6l, 3 ran.
Whitford Don (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) Blundered and unseated rider in race won by Darby Wall (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd, 10 ran.
Deferlant (FR) 5-1 (11-7) Always travelling well, led 3 out, soon clear, very easily, won at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd beating Just Reuben (10-1) by 22l, 4 ran.
Mr Dow Jones (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 5 out, went 3rd just after 3 out, led before 2 out, held on gamely flat, won at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Oct beating Yes My Lord (11-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Ashgreen 5-1 (10-2) Tracked leader, not fluent 9th, weakened 3 out, blundered last, 5th of 11, 11l behind Ladalko (11-11) at Newbury 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (E) gd in Nov '05.
He's The Gaffer (IRE) 7-2fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 9th, headed 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Avitta (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Waltzing Beau 20-1 (10-1) Held up, hit 7th and 9th, lost touch from 13th and pulled up 3 out in race won by Kinburn (10-11) at Ayr 3m 1f nov hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
