held up, improved approaching 3 out, ridden and kept on one pace
pulled hard, led, headed 5th, mistake 7th, ridden and weakened 3 out
chased leader, led 5th, jumped left 8th, ridden and headed approaching last, one pace
pulled hard, chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened next
held up, headway 8th, chased leader 3 out, led and hung left approaching last, ran on
held up, blundered 2nd, ridden 4 out, went 4th 3 out, blundered next, weakened approaching last, stumbled last
Stance has a leading chance here and gets the vote over Saafend Rocket, with Nopekan and Tunes Of Glory his main rivals. Stance was rated 133 on his last start over hurdles, finishing ninth in Listed company at Aintree, and even on his second in the County Hurdle earlier, stands head and shoulders above today's opposition. Gary Moore has found a most suitable opportunity for him to make his chasing bow, and come next year he should be back at the likes of Cheltenham, Aintree and Sandown again tackling decent opponents. He gets plenty of weight off Saafend Rocket who tended to jump to the left when beaten by Tigers Lair at Ludlow last time. That was a strange kink as all his winning has been when going clockwise, and with the ground in his favour, he should make his presence felt. Whether he can give nearly a stone to Stance is another question, but he should at least finish in front of the ex-Irish Nopekan who was behind him in third place at Ludlow. Tunes of Glory was eased when beaten at Bangor in April but will make his mark over fences, albeit not at the same expected level as Stance who is the class horse and can prove it here.
Saafend Rocket (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Jumped left, held up, steady headway 11th, went 2nd approaching 4 out, ridden next, no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Tigers Lair (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (D) gd.
Husky (POL) 20-1 (10-11) Led until fell at the 2nd in race won by Ma Yahab (10-6) at Fakenham 2m cnd mdn hdl (E) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Medici (FR) 11-2 (11-5) Tracked leader until 6th, outpaced from 3 out, 4th of 9, 25l behind Woody Valentine (11-1) at Southwell 2m 1f hdl (E) gd.
Moon Shot 50-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until 7th, soon behind, 3rd of 5, 42l behind Andreas (11-10) at N Abbot 2m nov chs (D) gf.
Stance 12-1 (11-2) Never better than mid-division, 9th of 18, 24l behind Definate Spectacle (10-1) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (A) gs in Apr.
Nopekan (IRE) 25-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden and slightly outpaced after 3 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Feel The Pride (11-5) at Warwick 2m nov chs (D) gf.
Ela Figura 22-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders and keen, led after 3rd, headed 5th, soon weakened and pulled up 3 out in race won by Allegedly Red (10-10) at Bangor 2m 1f mrs clm hdl (F) sft in Apr, 9 ran.
Tunes Of Glory (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened next, eased and no chance when pecked 2 out, 4th of 5, 32l behind Indien Royal (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nov chs (D) gs in Apr.
