soon in touch, mistake 2nd, mistake 9th and dropped to rear, no chance after
tracked leaders, tracked winner 8th, pressed winner from 4 out, every chance when fell 2 out
close up, lost place 5th, tailed off
tracked winner until 8th, outpaced 4 out, left remote 3rd 2 out until last
soon settled in rear, ridden 4 out, pulled up next
led, clear with one other 4 out, left clear 2 out, idled flat, ridden and headed, rallied to lead again near finish
close up, outpaced 4 out, kept on to go remote 3rd at last
towards rear, headway 4 out, soon chased leading pair, left 2nd 2 out, closed on winner approaching last, ridden to lead flat, headed near finish
Newton Abbot winner Chesapeake never got into a rhythm after an early blunder at Cheltenham last month, but should be thereabouts at the finish with a more fluent display of jumping. He still has a bit to find with Natural Action on earlier form at Southwell, however, though the latter's jumping has gone to pieces since and he's fallen on his last two starts. WYCK HILL could prove a safer option as he made an impressive start to his chasing career with a victory at Chepstow last month and David Bridgewater's charge can go on to better things over fences. Dowd's Destiny won over hurdles here last year and could prove best of the rest on his chasing bow.
Chesapeake (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, hit 6th, lost place approaching 8th, weakened 13th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Traffic Article (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gf in Oct.
Mister Hyde (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Always behind, 10th of 18, 34l behind Arthurian Legend (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Oct.
Natural Action 6-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, fell 11th, in a race won by Ostland (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gf in Oct, 7 ran.
Brunswick Gold (IRE) 7-1 (10-10) Held up mainly in 4th, hampered 6th, mistake next, lost place 5 out, weakened next, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Edgardo Sol (10-7) at Aintree 2m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gd in Oct.
Charlie Crab 33-1 (11-7) In touch, pushed along after 3rd, mistake and behind from next, soon lost touch, tailed off and mistake 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Raya Star (11-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Wyck Hill (IRE) 15-2 (11-4) Led until 10th, led again after next, strongly challenged from 3 out, stayed on gamely closing stages, won at Chepstow 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct beating Present To You (11-7) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Total Submission 7-4fav (11-12) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, ridden and lost place 10th, hit 12th and weakened, behind next, soon pulled up, in a race won by Ballagio (10-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct, 7 ran.
Dowd's Destiny (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Took keen hold in last, mistakes 3rd and 5th, stumbled 7th, headway 9th, outpaced after 3 out, stayed on from next, pressed for held 2nd flat, 3rd of 6, 2 1/4l behind North Island (10-12) at Bangor 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug '10.
