tracked leaders, jumped left and not fluent 3rd, closed 3 out, led before 2 out, clear when jumped left at hurdle, heavily eased towards finish
took keen hold, led, mistake 1st, jumped right and not fluent 2nd or 5th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
chased leader, not fluent 5th or 6th, ridden before 2 out, soon beaten, weakening when pecked last
held up in rear, mistake 4th, closed after 3 out, chased winner before next, no impression, not fluent last, eased towards finish
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 5th, closed after 3 out, ridden and no impression before next, went 3rd last, stayed on final 100 yards, never any threat to eased down front pair
COMMISSIONED finished runner-up in a Grade 2 contest here in Februry before a close fourth behind Guitar Pete in the Grade One Four-year-Old Hurdle at Aintree. He sauntered home on his comeback at Cheltenham for which a penalty shouldn't prove a problem. Jupiter Storm will have learnt from his debut at Ludlow where he jumped to the right and faded after attempting to make all. Pithivier went for £45,000 at the Doncaster sales in May after showing some promise in bumpers for Peter Niven but the remaining pair haven't shown enough to merit consideration.
Commissioned (IRE) 4-9fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, challenged 2 out, led between last 2, clear flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct beating Ballybolley (11-0) by 8l, 10 ran.
Jupiter Storm 5-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, jumped right, led, headed before 3 out, 3rd and no impression 2 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Buywise (10-12) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Medal of Valour (JPN) 33-1 (10-12) In rear, jumped slowly 3rd, soon struggling, 7th of 9, well behind Conducting (10-12) at Worcester 2m sll hdl (5) gf in Jul.
Pithivier (FR) 5-4fav (10-10) In touch, challenged 5f out, led 4f out, headed 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, not pace of winner, 2nd of 9, 8l behind Shades Of Midnight (10-5) at Hexham 2m NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
Shear Rock (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mistake 1st, in rear, never on terms, 10th of 13, 18l behind Jebril (11-0) at Plumpton 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.