held up towards rear, headway before 8th, in 4th before 2 out, kept on well from last, went 2nd near finish, well held by winner
in rear, headway 6 out, ridden to lead last, kept on well run-in
tracked leaders in 3rd place, lost place before 4 out
in touch, headway before 4 out, weakened before last
led to 3rd, tracked leader, blundered 7th, mistake 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, led 3rd, ridden and headed last, kept on and lost 2nd place near finish
towards tear, ridden and headway before 3 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, mistake 1st, reminder before 6th, tailed off 3 out, never dangerous, pulled up
Theflyingportrait won this last year off a 7lb lower mark when narrowly beating Simply Ned. The latter re-opposes on better terms and won the previous two renewals so has to come into the reckoning but FOREST BIHAN (NAP) is preferred. Another of a strong team sent by Brian Ellison today, he just missed out in the Grade 1 novice chase at Aintree in April and the six-year-old looks a top-notch chaser in the making. Double W's and Just Cameron won earlier this year but Wisty has the more recent form with a hat-trick at Cartmel though has been raised 13lb for his latest success.
Simply Ned (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, hampered 5 out, soon beaten, 7th of 10, 31 1/4l behind Vaniteux (11-8) at Ayr 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Forest Bihan (FR) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 4 out, ridden to challenge and every chance last when left in lead soon after, kept on and headed near finish, 2nd of 5, hd behind San Benedeto (11-4) at Aintree 2m (1) gd in Apr.
Just Cameron 5-2jfav (11-1) Chased leader in 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, ridden and no impression entering straight, no extra in 3rd before last, weakened, 4th of 6, dist behind Alisier D'irlande (11-5) at Naas 2m (1) hvy in Feb.
Double W's (IRE) 4-1 (10-13) Soon behind and not travel well, lost touch when pulled up before 6th, at Ayr 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Wisty (IRE) 5-2 (11-0) Jumped well, made all, soon clear, unchallenged, won at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Aug beating Nicolas Chauvin (10-7) by 17l, 6 ran.
Theflyingportrait (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Led until 2 out, chased winner, well held when mistake and lost 2nd last, weakened run in, 5th of 6, 14l behind Dear Sire (11-2) at Perth 2m hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Rock On Rocky 20-1 (10-4) Led into start, chased leaders on outside until bad mistake and dropped rear 5th, pulled up before 8th, at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Alamein (IRE) 50-1 (11-8) Led, headed 3 out and ridden, no extra in 4th when fell 2 out, at Killarney 2m 5f gd in Aug.
