mid-division, mistake and dropped towards rear 4th, struggling 7th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up 4 out
tracked leading paair, left 2nd at 12th, led on bit before 3 out, soon clear, comfortably
led, headed before 5th, tracked leader, led again before 11th, headed approaching 3 out, soon no chance with winner, left 2nd when mistake and hampered next, weakened before last
pressed leader, led before 5th, headed before 11th, disputed 2nd and in touch when fell next
held up in last pair, struggling 11th, soon weakened, pulled up 3 out
held up in last pair, struggling 11th, soon weakened, pulled up 3 out
tracked leaders in 4th, challenged on outside 11th, left clear 3rd next, outpaced 3 out, no chance with winner in narrow 2nd when fell next
chased leaders in 5th, outpaced when left moderate 4th 12th, left 3rd 2 out, went remote 2nd before last, no chance with easy winner
Nonrunner
Soft ground could pose problems for a few of these but Elenika and COOLE RIVER both have winning form on the surface. The latter was having his first start for Emma Lavelle when beaten just over two lengths by Grandioso at Wincanton. A very useful hurdler in Ireland, he looks a promising recruit to chasing and can score here as Monarch's Way has a penalty to overcome for his victory in a small race at Musselburgh and Grove Pride may be better over further. Milarrow was doing his best work at the finish when third over 2m1f at Newbury, however, and makes more appeal than Rajdhani Express and Aikideau.
Grove Pride 7-2 (10-13) Tracked leader, blundered 17th, weakened after 4 out, last of 4, well behind Bold Sir Brian (11-7) at Sandown 3m Listed chs (1) sft.
Rajdhani Express 4-1 (10-9) Held up, headway to 3rd at 3rd, went 2nd at 8th, travelling well and challenging when fell 3 out, in a race won by Changing Times (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f Novice Limited Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) sft, 7 ran.
Coole River (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Led, joined and went left 3 out, headed next, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Grandioso (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f beg chs (3) sft.
Valmari (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Led, hit 4th, clear next, jumped right 9th, 2 lengths up when fell 4 out, in a race won by Dynaste (11-8) at Newbury 2m 4f nov chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
Elenika (FR) 9-4 (11-6) Raced keenly, led, headed after 4th, led again before 3 out until 3 out, lost 2nd next, rallied to press for 2nd again close home, no chance with easy winner, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Marshal Zhukov (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft.
Monarch's Way 9-4 (11-12) Tracked leading pair, effort 3 out, switched left before next, soon challenged, led narrowly last, ridden and held on flat, won at Musselburgh 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs beating Alpha One (11-8) by nk, 4 ran.
Aikideau (FR) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 4th approaching 3 out, no chance with leaders before next, 4th of 5, 31l behind Sire De Grugy (11-7) at Lingfield 2m nov chs (4) hvy in Nov.
Milarrow (IRE) 9-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders, outpaced 5 out, rallied 2 out, stayed on to go 3rd towards finish, never able to challenge, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Parsnip Pete (11-0) at Newbury 2m 1f Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (4yo+) (3) sft in Nov.
Gores Island (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Held up behind, smooth headway on outside after 12th, in touch when mistake 4 out, soon one pace, weakened 2 out, 11th of 15, 44l behind Rolling Aces (11-12) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
