jumped poorly and right throughout, held up, mistake 1st, headway to 4th before 7th, rear again 9th, headway next, rear again when blundered badly 12th, 13th and next, went poor 3rd closing stages, tailed off
went left at some fences, chased leader, led 6th until before next, chased leader until 13th, lost 3rd before 4 out, modest 4th when left 3rd 4 out, lost that position closing stages
went left at some fences, led until 6th, led again before next, hit 13th, left 6 lengths ahead 4 out, stayed on well from 2 out
chased leading trio, went 2nd 13th, pushed along and about 4 lengths down when blundered bady 4 out, eventually unseated rider
tracked leaders, not fluent 11th, ridden in 4th after 13th, 3rd before 4 out, ridden and no real impression when left modest 2nd after 4 out, edged right and closed before 3 out, no impression next
This appears to be an excellent opportunity for ANDYTOWN to get off the mark over fences. Previously tried once, when he didn't fire as expected, he has been back over hurdles since, winning at the Cheltenham Festival in 2009 and then finishing last season off with success in a decent Ayr handicap. Good ground suits, he stays well and this small field should give him plenty of time to get his act together. Strategic Approach is a very interesting chase newcomer but, like all of the others in the line-up, would be best on softer ground. Key Cutter looks best of the remainder.
Andytown (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd approaching and hampered next, led 2 out, kept on well, driven out, won at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) gd in Apr beating Riptide (10-2) by 4l, 7 ran.
Horseshoe Reef (AUS) 3-1 (11-0) Led after 2nd, not fluent 7th, headed next, weakened 4 out, 5th of 7, 36l behind Gee Dee Nen (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f beg chase (5) gf in Jun.
Key Cutter (FR) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 4 out, kept on, always held, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Midnight Haze (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs.
Picture In The Sky (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, lost place 9th, hit 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Tell Massini (11-4) at Stratford 2m 7f beg chs (4) gs in Oct.
Strategic Approach (IRE) 5-6fav (11-6) Led until 3rd, reminders and led again after next, narrowly headed after 7th, weakened before 2 out, soon eased when beaten, 5th of 8, 32l behind Five Star Wilsham (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
