prominent, slow 5th, mistake 11th, hard driven 5 out, kept on well under pressure
held up towards rear, headway 5 out, led 2 out, driven clear last, ran on strongly
held up in rear, effort 3 out, soon no impression
chased leaders, slow 4th and 6th, soon lost place, tailed off
led, ridden 3 out, headed next, stayed on same pace
behind, slow 7th, detatched halfway, soon tailed off, pulled up before 6 out
tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, weakened before 2 out
in touch, slow 13th, headway under pressure approaching 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, rallied before 2 out, went 2nd at last, never able to challenge
This may not turn out as competitive as it looks at first glance. Faster ground may have contributed to TRIOLO D'ALENE's return to form in the Topham Chase at Aintree last time. He just got the better of Walkon on that occasion when stablemate Giorgio Quercus unseated his rider and Nicky Henderson's charge should prove too good for these. No Loose Change was successful at Kempton on his latest start but, along with Galway Jack, will find life much tougher off a higher mark today. Niceonefrankie and Holmwood Legend are others with something to prove in this grade after making the frame in lesser company and Junior makes more appeal if David Pipe has him back to anything like his best.
Junior 33-1 (11-10) Slowly away and always in rear, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Liberty Counsel (9-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch, 28 ran.
Triolo D'Alene (FR) 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division on inside, headway 12th (canal turn), went 2nd 2 out, led after last, soon ridden, kept on flat, held on near finish, won at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs beating Walkon (11-7) by 3/4l, 29 ran.
Giorgio Quercus (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, in touch when hampered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Triolo D'Alene (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs, 29 ran.
No Loose Change (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Made all, clear before 3 out, blundered next, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd beating Lexicon Lad (11-3) by 5l, 10 ran.
Galway Jack (IRE) 85-40fav (11-12) Often jumped right, made all, clear when went right 2 out, went right again last, won at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd beating Volcan Surprise (11-6) by 15l, 9 ran.
Holmwood Legend 25-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 11th, ridden before 3 out, not fluent and lost place next, 6th and held when left 3rd and hampered last, kept on flat, 3rd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Violin Davis (11-7) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gf.
Niceonefrankie 9-2 (11-8) In touch on inside, ridden after 3 out, chased leading pair before last, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression with winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind See U Bob (11-1) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Barlow (IRE) 2-5fav (10-7) Led until mistake and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by El Dancer (11-7) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) sft in Mar, 5 ran.
Billie Magern 16-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, outpaced and lost place 11th, rallied to modest 5th 2 out, 5th of 12, 17l behind Quentin Collonges (10-0) at Doncaster 3m 2f hcp chs (2) gd in Mar.
