tracked leaders, lost place 9th, in rear from 12th, one pace from 3 out
tracked winner, not fluent 6th, hit 3 out, led after 2 out on inside, headed last, kept on towards finish, just held
led and keen, ridden and headed after 2 out, rallied and regained lead last, kept on towards finish, just held on, all out
held up towards rear, hit 14th, soon weakened, tailed off 3 out, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, weakened after last
chased leaders, ridden before last, one pace
towards rear, hit 2nd and unseated rider
in rear, headway approaching 13th, pushed along approaching 15th, hit 3 out, one pace and no impression from next
A chance is taken on MILANS MAN. Howard Johnson has his horses in good nick and this former point-to-point winner seems to relish a test of stamina in the mud. He gets those conditions today and assuming he jumps proficiently he might be hard to beat. The best form is held by former hunter-chaser Sweden. He won a weak race at Wetherby last time out for which he is now penalised, but he showed plenty of grit there and is not easy to pass over here. Golfer's Crossing needs a market check on this debut under rules, whilst Oil Burner and Columbus are unexposed and likely to improve on their hurdling form now tackling fences. Bescot Springs is the other to consider seeing as he was impressive on soft ground twice earlier this year over hurdles.
Sweden (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden to challenge after 2 out, pressed leader flat, led last 50 yards, kept on gamely, won at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (5) gd in Oct beating New Shuil (10-12) by nk, 8 ran.
Bescot Springs (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) With leader, led 8th, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 17, 29l behind Corso Palladio (11-0) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct.
Club Class 6-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, weakened after 8th, 4th of 9, well behind Only The Best (10-12) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Columbus Secret (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Held up behind when blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Soft Spoken Guy (11-5) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr, 14 ran.
Golfer's Crossing (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Bhd early, mod 9th from 5th, prog to mod 3rd from 3out, went 2nd next, so to ld from last, ko, won at Athlacca 3m ire ptp in May '08 beating How Busy Is He (12-0) by 2l, 14 ran.
Milans Man (IRE) 4-5fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 8th, headed last, soon weakened, 2nd of 9, 25l behind Only The Best (10-12) at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Oil Burner 4-1 (10-11) Mid-division on inside, switched outside and headway after 3 out, chased leading pair before next, soon outpaced and no impression, lost 3rd before last, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 26l behind Monogram (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Only The Best 9-4 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway from 8th, soon tracked leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, led next, soon clear, readily, won at Hexham 3m nov hdl (4) sft in Mar beating Milans Man (11-12) by 25l, 9 ran.
