prominent, blundered 17th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before last
mid-division, headway and mistake 10th, lost place 20th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent, lost place 14th, 4th and beaten when blundered last
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
led to 19th, led again 4 out to 3 out, soon weakened
held up, headway 19th, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out, no extra towards finish
in touch, jumped slowly and lost place 3rd, headway 15th, led 19th to 22nd, led again next, ridden approaching last, kept on gamely
always behind, mistake 16th, tailed off and pulled up after 18th
in touch, ridden 16th, weakened 2 out
mid-division, headway 13th, ridden to chase winner briefly approaching 2 out, soon weakened
Stamina will be at a premium here and with distance winners Mister One and Over Zealous, likely to be better for the outing, a chance is taken with the lightly weighted Dirk Cove to regain the winning thread. Richard Rowe has made a slow start to the season, but there have been more encouraging signs of late, having fired in a couple of hurdles winners in the last fortnight and while the selection does have to prove he stays this far, he is well worth a try at this marathon trip. Falcon Du Coteau has yet to reproduce his Irish form this side of the water, but he is beginning to come down in the weights and cannot be discounted, neither can Wontcostalotbut on this return to chasing. Not disgraced on her seasonal reappearance behind the useful Bosham Mill, the nine-year-old will relish this stamina test and must go well off her lightweight. Mister One hasn't been seen since lumping 12-stone into fifth place in the Summer National last year. A classy performer, he will surely need this outing, but one thing in his favour is that the Handicapper has taken pity on him and has dropped him 13lbs in the interim, which leaves him seriously well treated on a mark 5lbs lower than when last successful. However, with no doubts about fitness, Dirk Cove is the choice to prove too strong for Wontcostalotbut.