led, tentative at the fences until headed 7th, jumped slowly 10th, led 3 out, headed and weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
tracked leader, led 7th, headed 3 out, soon beaten, went modest 3rd 2 out, jumped left last
tracked leaders, led approaching 2 out, driven and joined last, headed flat, held towards finish
held up behind leaders, went 3rd after 3 out, chased leader before 2 out, challenging when mistake last, led flat, pushed out
Schumpters Lad was quite impressive in beating hot favourite Tatispout at Warwick. The runner-up scored earlier this week but that Charlie Mann's gelding's sixth start over fences and he lacks the scope of KAUTO THE ROC. A decent hurdler, the latter hasn't raced since March but gets 7lb from the only previous winner in the race and is closely related to a couple of chase winners in France. Supreme De Paille may improve for last month's reappearance at Uttoxeter but Flichity has shown nothing so far over the larger obstacles.
Schumpters Lad (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Chased clear leader until after 2nd and again before 6th, gradually closed, led 2 out, clear flat, won at Warwick 2m nov chs (3) gf beating Tatispout (10-7) by 10l, 4 ran.
Flichity (IRE) 150-1 (10-10) Chased leading pair virtually throughout, outpaced 3 out, soon no chance with front pair, tailed off, 3rd of 7, well behind Balzaccio (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
Kauto The Roc (FR) 10-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 9th, weakened after 3 out, 12th of 14, well behind Cloudy Spirit (11-4) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Supreme de Paille (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, not fluent 3rd, lost 2nd 8th, losing place when mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 46l behind Ultravox (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
