led, pressed 3 out, ridden before last, kept on and headed close home
tracked leaders in 3rd, challenged 3 out, ridden before last, no extra
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 11th, hit 4 out, ridden before last, kept on to lead close home
held up in rear and mistakes, pushed along before 6th, tailed off before 3 out
tracked leader until 11th, quickly lost place before 12th, tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
Stonethrower won over 3m over hurdles but doesn't stay as well as SCOTSBROOK CLOUD, who is receiving plenty of weight from his likely market rivals. The grey's form over fences so far has been a little indifferent but he did run the 119-rated Calusa Caldera close in a handicap at Ffos Las in May and was second over 3m3f over hurdles at Newton Abbot last month. Tasheba has taken well to fences, winning at Cartmel and Bangor, but this looks his stiffest task to date over the larger obstacles. Former point-to-pointers Wricksons Bridge and Flora Springs look out of their depth here.
Stonethrower (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Set steady pace, jumped right throughout, headed 3 out, soon rallied, every chance last, no extra closing stages, 4th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Alpine Breeze (10-2) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf in Aug.
Tasheba 2-1fav (12-0) Held up in touch, not fluent and out paced 3 out, rallied between last 2, stayed on well to lead post, won at Bangor 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug beating Kilcascan (9-7) by ns, 5 ran.
Scotsbrook Cloud 33-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden and every chance from 2 out, held towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Buachaill Alainn (10-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Aug.
Wricksons Bridge (IRE) 6-4 (12-0) Led 5-10; wknd 3 out, 4th of 13, 22l behind Molland Gayle (11-7) at Bratton Down 3m ptp gd in Jun.
Flora Springs 66-1 (11-7) W ldrs; cl 2nd 11; lost tch 15, 3rd of 9, 31l behind Lucia Popp (11-7) at Upcott Cross 3m ptp gd in Jun.
