led, headed 4th, tailed off when pulled up approaching straight
tracked leaders, led 7th, briefly headed 12th, led again next, ridden 2 out, all out, headed flat
tracked leaders, led 4th, headed 7th, led briefly 12th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up, slightly hampered 4 out, staying on from 3 out, rallied flat, just failed
towards rear when fell 5th
mid-division, ridden when fell 4 out
held up, ridden and outpaced approaching 4 out, staying on from 3 out, switched right flat and led, all out
towards rear, mistake 4 out, stayed on
never a factor
in touch, headway 15th, chased leader 4 out, every chance 2 out, soon weakened
Notanotherdonkey put up a good performance when beating course specialist Manbow at Wetherby last time and has to be respected off just a 5lb higher mark today but preference is for Spring Lover, who gets the vote over Back In Business. The last mentioned has won his last two starts but has not been seen since the beginning of June and may now be a shade high in the weights so the Evan Williams-trained gelding looks best watched. Michael Chapman's Present Oriented ran better at Fakenham last time and has to be considered on that evidence, while Contact Dancer would have claims on the pick of his form but has not shown that for some time. The vote then goes to the Venetia Williams-trained Spring Lover who was good value for his success over the in-form Millards Lad here last week and he is taken to follow up that success and defy the 7lb penalty for it.
Harry Potter (GER) 50-1 (11-5) Mid-division, under pressure 7th, soon faded, 11th of 16, well behind Blue Splash (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
Spring Lover (FR) 13-2 (10-11) Led, headed 3rd, led after 18th, soon clear, ran on, won at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd beating Millards Lad (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 11 ran.
Present Oriented (USA) 3-1 (10-10) Led, hit 13th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, rallied flat but always held, 2nd of 4, 1/2l behind Colorado Pearl (10-8) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gs.
Contact Dancer (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Towards rear, ridden 13th, stayed on from 2 out, 3rd of 12, 14l behind Over The Creek (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gs.
Back In Business (IRE) 15-8fav (11-10) Held up, headway 15th, led after 3 out, clear when mistake last, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun beating Royal Hilarity (11-3) by 6l, 14 ran.
Notanotherdonkey (IRE) 15-8fav (9-12) Led from 1st, soon clear until 11th, headed 4 out ridden to lead last, kept on well, won at Wetherby 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Nov beating Manbow (11-2) by 2l, 5 ran.
Yann's (FR) 22-1 (10-11) Held up, ridden and stayed on from 4 out, chased leading pair from 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 11, 3l behind Ferimon (11-12) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Nov.
Leopold (SLO) 12-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway 11th, chased leaders next, ridden 3 out, one pace approaching last, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Sheriff Roscoe (11-2) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd.
Cassia Heights 22-1 (9-11) Mid-division, ridden when hit 13th, weakened 3 out, 8th of 13, 21l behind Which Pocket (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Caislean Na Deirge (IRE) 11-1 (9-9) In touch, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 11, 9l behind Spring Lover (10-11) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
