close up, in 3rd and pushed along after 6th, mistake 10th, went poor 4th after 5 out, in 4th and held when mistake 2 out, snatched 3rd towards finish, no impression
led, ridden and under pressure before last, headed soon after, kept on, not pace of winner
held up towards rear, pushed along 8th, weakeend from next, pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, headway 6 out, went 2nd after 5 out, challenged on bit after 2 out, led after last, shaken up to go clear flat, readily
tracked leaders and keen, went 2nd from 5 out, ridden before and in 3rd when jumped right 3 out, soon no impression, lost 3rd towards finish
tracked leaders, pushed along before 8th, weakened before 5 out
held up in rear, weakened before 5 out
Rory Boy began his chasing career with two victories on good ground and will welcome a return to faster conditions. After victories at Sedgefield and Musselburgh, Tyrone House blotted his copybook by refusing when beaten at Newcastle but the very testing conditions were probably responsible. Nikos Extra was in quite good form at this time a year ago without managing to win and could still be a few pounds high, a remark that also applies to the useful Saphir Des Bois. Ian Williams sent Invisible Man to the Galway Festival last summer and he was a very convincing winner on fast ground. He hasn't been seen since a poor effort at Market Rasen in September and might just need this. HECTOR'S CHOICE was having only his second start over fences when beating a small field at Ludlow where he made all for a comfortable success. This is tougher but he's progressing nicely and on a fair enough mark to complete the double.
Saphir Des Bois (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Always behind, hit 2nd, ridden along 7th, behind and no chance when blundered 4 out, tailed off, 10th of 15, well behind Fine Parchment (10-4) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gs.
Invisible Man (FR) 7-4fav (11-9) Tracked winner and soon clear, challenged when mistake and pecked 4 out, soon lost place, left 12 lengths down in 3rd when weakening next, tailed off, 3rd of 6, well behind Billie Magern (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs (2) gd in Sep.
Hector's Choice (FR) 15-8 (10-12) Led from 1st and made rest, pressed 3 out, in command last, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd beating Phidippides (11-4) by 10l, 5 ran.
Nikos Extra (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway on inside 6 out, in 3rd when fell 4 out, in a race won by Drever Route (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Fred Bojangals (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up mid-division and keen, hit 6 out, weakened before next, 8th of 11, 24l behind Elite Land (10-9) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Rory Boy (USA) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, under pressure approaching 10th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 32l behind Coup Royale (10-10) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb.
Tyrone House (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Led, headed before 4th, led again 6 out, headed before 5 out, pushed along before 4 out, soon beaten, refused last, in a race won by Chamirey (11-4) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (2) hvy in Feb, 4 ran.
