prominent, went 2nd 3rd, led approaching 6th, ridden and headed before 4 out, soon beaten, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway after 9th, not fluent 3 out, no extra next
held up in rear, mistake 4th, hit 8th, soon switched right, headway 9th, went close 2nd 2 out, stayed on, no impression on winner flat
mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway approaching 6th, ridden to chase winner 4 out until 2 out, no extra flat
mid-division, headway approaching 6th, went 2nd 8th, led before 4 out, stayed on well and in command flat
led until approaching 6th, stayed handy, ridden 4 out, disputing close 2nd when mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, mistake and lost place 7th, mistake next, well beaten after 9th
not fluent 1st, pressed leader until 3rd, stayed handy until 9th, soon weakened
held up, headway on outside when hit 7th, weakened 4 out
Cruchain has shown a liking for this course in the past and isn't badly treated on his best form. Wester Ross won over C&D last month but didn't reproduce that effort at Hereford last time while Lord Singer spurned an easier opportunity at Warwick earlier this month. Mark Twain's second to Havingotascoobydo at Ffos Las in October was a solid first run over fences and Kim Bailey's four-year-old has bags of scope but it's no surprise to see ALL FOR FREE turned out again quickly under a penalty. He found a surprising turn of foot to win easily at Ascot on Saturday and, though this looks a little more competitive, should be good enough to complete a quick double. The ex-Irish Carleton Place is possibly the pick of the remainder.
Lord Singer (FR) 5-2fav (11-7) Held up, headway 3rd, not fluent 3 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, soon driven, no impression and edged left flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 7l behind Triangular (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Cruchain (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Led until 8th, lost place next, soon beaten, 5th of 6, 23l behind Super Formen (10-11) at Taunton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Wester Ross (IRE) 15-2 (12-3) In rear when blundered 4th, never on terms after, 5th of 9, 24l behind Nosecond Chance (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Fighting Chance (IRE) 11-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, weakened on long run to ommited 4 out, 5th of 7, 27l behind Renard (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.
All For Free (IRE) 5-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, left 3rd 3 out, closed to challenge next, led between last 2, soon clear, easily, won at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft beating Cheney Manor (11-2) by 11l, 8 ran.
Mark Twain (IRE) 17-2 (10-7) Held up in last trio, headway to 3rd 4 out, hit next, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Havingotascoobydo (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m nov chs (4) gd in Oct.
Carleton Place (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Tracked leader until 4th and again from 8th, led 3 out, headed next, no extra last, 5th of 9, 17l behind Tilly Ann (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Oct.
Pin D'Estruval (FR) 6-1 (11-1) Led, mistake 6th, not fluent and joined 8th, headed after 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 7, 23l behind Triangular (11-4) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd.
Olympian Boy (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Held up behind, struggling 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 11th, in a race won by That'lldoboy (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
