tracked leaders, took keen hold, left 2nd and hampered 11th, closed after 3 out, every chance when mistake 2 out, no impression flat
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, went 2nd 5th, left in lead 11th, pressed when not fluent 2 out, edged left approaching last, stayed on flat, ridden out
chased leader, lost 2nd 5th, last and not fluent next, soon ridden and lost ground on front trio, lost touch when left 3rd 11th
Henry Daly's Rockiteer finally opened his account over fences when landing a handicap chase at Market Rasen at the beginning of the month and, while he has every chance and the benefit of plenty of chasing experience, he may struggle to follow up that last time out success. Tim Vaughan's Walamo also has a penalty to carry following his earlier win at the Lincolnshire venue last month and has twice been beaten since then under a penalty so a better bet may prove to be AGENTE ROMANO. The Evan Williams-trained gelding lacks any chasing experience which is of some concern but the five-year-old has shown a decent level of form over hurdles and he will take plenty of beating if able to reproduce hurdling form over the larger obstacles. The other runner in the field, Night Orbit, makes limited appeal.
Rockiteer (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, led after 4 out, headed 3 out, ridden to challenge last, regained lead last 150 yards, kept on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd beating Yellow Flag (11-1) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Walamo (GER) 5-1 (11-0) Led, ridden and headed approaching 3 out, 5 lenghts down and held when left in lead last, headed towards finish, 2nd of 3, 2l behind Mission Control (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd.
Agente Romano (USA) 11-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, blundered 5th, mistake 3 out, weakened last, 7th of 14, 11l behind Mumbles Pier (9-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Jul.
Night Orbit 25-1 (11-3) Tracked winner 2nd until led after next, headed 6th, weakened from next, tailed off, last of 5, 31l behind The Minack (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) sft in Feb.