chased clear winner until 7th, chased leading pair, went distant 2nd again last, never any chance with unchallenged winner
mostly jumped well, made all, clear after 2nd, brushed 13th, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
held up tracking leading trio, headway 9th, went 3rd after next, went 2nd before 12th, not fluent 2 out, no chance with winner when weakened to 3rd last
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 7th, weakened before 11th, struggling when blundered next, tailed off in 4th when pulled up before last
held up last, not fluent 2nd, mistake 4th, ridden 5th, struggling 8th, mistake next, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
RIVAL D'ESTRUVAL is bred to jump fences and should have more to offer. He was no match for Bold Sir Brian at Carlisle last month but the winner scored again at Sandown on Friday and Pauline Robson's novice faces nothing of his calibre here. Saphir River may struggle to last home over this trip on this stiff track while Hexham winner Papamoa appears to have plenty to find on the form book. The others have little to recommend them.
Papamoa 6-5fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 9th, led next, headed before 11th, regained lead 2 out, clear before last, won at Hexham 3m 1f Beginners Chase (0-110) (4yo+) (4) sft in Nov beating Borderhopper (10-10) by 31l, 5 ran.
Rival D'Estruval (FR) 10-11fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, held in 3rd before last, kept on to take 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 8l behind Bold Sir Brian (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f chs (2) hvy in Nov.
Saphir River (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Always behind, 14th of 16, dis behind Trustan Times (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
And The Man 3-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, in 3rd when quickly pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Wyse Hill Teabags (11-6) at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar '11, 15 ran.
Snooze N You Lose 100-1 (11-2) Behind, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Aneyeforaneye (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Sep, 8 ran.