held up, hampered 3rd, jumped slowly 6th, effort after 3 out, not trouble leaders
held up, badly hampered 3rd, headway 6th, not fluent 7th, ridden to lead 2 out, edged slightly left flat, ran on
held up in touch, ridden and every chance 2 out, no extra flat
led until after 1st, chased leader until left in lead 3rd, ridden and headed after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
prominent, hampered 3rd, ridden 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
pulled hard, prominent until weakened approaching 6th, tailed off
held up, headway after 6th, ridden next, stayed on same pace from 2 out
led soon after 1st, fell 3rd
held up in touch, hampered and brought down 3rd
pulled hard in mid-division, hampered 3rd, headway 5th, mistake 7th, soon led, ridden and headed 2 out, one pace
not fluent, soon pushed along in mid-division, behind from 6th, pulled up after 7th
Fire Dragon is the pick over Absolut Power, with Kilindini best of the remainder. There is plenty of recent winning form to go on here, but it is the reappearing Fire Dragon that gets the nod in the belief that his class will see him through. A progressive sort early on last season, he failed to give his true running behind Dabiroun at the Cheltenham Festival and was put away for the remainder of the campaign. Hopefully the break will have done him the world of good, and as he goes well fresh, a comeback win is on the cards under Tony McCoy. Absolut Power won as he liked when odds-on at Uttoxeter last time but has more on his plate here, but should hold Kilindini on a line through Explosive Fox. Mister Moussac is upgraded but lines up in form so should run well without being up to the task, and for the winner we return to Fire Dragon.
Royal Atalza (FR) 50-1 (10-4) Prominent when jumped slowly 1st, soon lost place and behind, slightly hampered 3rd, tailed off when unseated rider at the 12th in race won by Cregg House (10-5) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (B) gs in Apr, 30 ran.
Fire Dragon (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 22nd of 24, well behind Dabiroun (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar.
Absolut Power (GER) 8-13fav (11-3) Chased leader, led 9th, clear next, pushed out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gf beating Explosive Fox (11-3) by 11l, 6 ran.
Kilindini 7-4fav (11-3) Made all, well clear last, eased flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gf in Aug beating Explosive Fox (11-3) by 4l, 10 ran.
Green Prospect (FR) 8-1 (10-13) Tracked leader, led after 4th, jumped right 4th and 6th, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 39l behind Black De Bessy (10-13) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gd.
Leopold (SLO) 14-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, closer order 6th, hampered and lost place on bend after 3 out, kept on, 4th of 11, 9l behind Screenplay (10-12) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gf.
Mister Moussac 4-1 (10-9) Made all, hung right from after 3 out, clear last, kept on well, won at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd beating Looks The Business (11-1) by 8l, 10 ran.
My Galliano (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Held up, pulled hard, headway 4 out, chased leader approaching 3 out, driven to challenge next, weakened approaching last, 7th of 11, 11l behind Mexican Pete (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in Aug.
