blundered and unseated rider 1st
hampered 1st, held up in mid-division, not fluent and lost place 4th, ridden 7th, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
mistake 1st, held up, ridden 7th, behind 4 out, pulled up before next
held up in rear, jumped right and mistake then hampered 1st, not fluent 7th, some headway next, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, not always fluent, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
led, took keen hold, not always fluent, headed when mistake 3 out, went left 2 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leaders, not much room 1st, ridden after 3 out, one pace, no extra flat
mistake 1st, tracked leader until 6th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway 2nd, went 2nd 6th, led 3 out, clear when blundered 2 out, eased towards finish
fell 1st
held up in rear, hampered 1st and 6th, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
Akula fell early on in his chasing bow at Huntingdon but Grams And Ounces was still in touch when unseating Thomas Flint two out at Newton Abbot and Polisky may have needed the experience when third over a longer trip at Uttoxeter in July. Drumshambo and My Brother Sylvest are newcomers to note but so is SIRE DE GRUGY, who was arguably the best of these over hurdles. At his best going right-handed, Gary Moore's charge could be the one to beat if he jumps adequately. Paul Webber won this last year with Australia Day but Theodore Lamb doesn't look to have his stablemate's ability while the mare Faha is best watched after a break.
Akula (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Led until 3rd, fell 5th, in a race won by Alfraamsey (10-4) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gd, 7 ran.
Arbeo (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 6th, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon weakened, mistake last, 8th of 17, 33l behind Abnaki (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Aussie Man And Van (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) In rear, not fluent 8th, no chance and struggling when fell 4 out, in a race won by Midnight Sail (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (4) gs in Apr, 6 ran.
Drumshambo (USA) 6-1 (10-10) Mistakes, set steady pace, headed 5th, tracked leader until ridden 3 out, weakened last, last of 7, 10l behind Kuilsriver (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 5f con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in May.
Grams And Ounces 10-1 (10-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, in 3rd and staying on when pecked and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Jump City (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m nov chs (4) sft, 4 ran.
My Brother Sylvest 40-1 (11-5) Led narrowly, headed after 3 out, soon weakened, 16th of 17, well behind Knight Pass (11-2) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Dec.
Polisky (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Keen early, tracked leader, led narrowly 3 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, no impression in clear 3rd flat, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Russian War (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f beg chase (4) gd in Jul.
Rebel High (IRE) 200-1 (11-3) Diasputed lead until outpaced before 9th, driven and closed on leader again before 2 out, ridden and every chance between last 2, switched towards stand side rail after last, no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 4 1/2l behind Creekside (10-7) at Towcester 2m beg chs (4) gf.
Sire De Grugy (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Towards rear, headway on inner over 3 out, ridden before last, weakened flat, 8th of 21, 9l behind Lifestyle (11-2) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Theodore Lamb 4-1 (11-7) Chased leader, led 6th, narrowly headed 8th, led again approaching 4 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 8, 7l behind City Ground (10-0) at Stratford 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Jun.
Faha (IRE) 20-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, led last, driven out, won at Worcester 2m nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Kruseman (10-12) by 4l, 10 ran.
