held up in rear, mistake 3rd, jumped slowly next, jumped left 2 out, never dangerous
led 1st, soon headed, remained prominent, driven to challenge approaching last, no extra
pulled hard, led after 1st, challenged from 2 out, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, never able to challenge
in touch, pushed along 5th, mistake 6th, not fluent next, soon weakened
in touch, mistake 1st, not fluent 2nd, headway 3 out, soon chasing winner, kept on well
Nonrunner
CAPE GREKO is worth a shot in a race of this nature and outpoints Green Gamble and Benetwood as the one to be on. Benetwood looked a solid type at the start of last season but posted a couple of dismal efforts in his last two starts. He now has too much to prove to forwarding as a confident choice and, especially on these terms, he may be best watched today. Green Gamble moped up in three weak races towards the end of last season and faced very little in the way of competition. His confidence will have been boosted no end and, as he is hardly weighted to the hilt, he can give the selection plenty to think about. However, Cape Greko is a versatile individual and, as he arrives here fit from a blow out on the Flat at Newbury last week, Brendan Powell's charge gets the nomination. A previous course and distance winner, Cape Greko has nothing to fear from the track and he will be very hard to peg back if he is allowed a soft lead from the start.
Benetwood (IRE) 5-1jt-fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, blundered 5th, lost place and blundered next, no chance when pulled up at the 7th in race won by Sou'wester (11-11) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May, 12 ran.
Cape Greko 11-8fav (11-5) Led, ridden 4 out, headed after 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Mister Benedictine (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (4) gd in May.
Laoch Dubh (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Led from 1st, made rest, driven out flat, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct beating Notre Cyborg (11-10) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Majorca 12-1 (11-5) Held up, effort 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Ruairi (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Green Gamble 9-4fav (10-1) Tracked leaders, led 7th, headed 4 out, led again 3 out, challenged flat, kept on, won at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Mar beating Mango Catcher (9-10) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Urban Tiger (GER) 3-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to chase winner last, always held, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Classic Role (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Ingratitude (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) In touch, lost place 5th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 11, 21l behind Cheating Chance (11-2) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.
