held up in rear, headway, hit 9th, led next, ridden approaching 3 out, headed narrowly 2 out, regained lead flat, kept on well
tracked leaders, mistakes, weakened from 5 out
tracked leaders, ridden to lead narrowly 2 out, headed flat, no extra
led to 6th, weakened approaching 9th, jumped slow 4 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, blundered 7th, soon weakened
prominent, led 6th, hit, headed 5 out, outpaced after next
Mage d'Estruval, Dark Corner and Spring Margot make the shortlist here, with Dark Corner set to atone for a mishap last time. Mage d'Estruval is lightly raced and unexposed as a consequence. He finished off last season with a good win over a longer trip in heavy ground, and conditions will not be as testing here. This shorter distance may not suit, and he is opposed on his re-appearance, with most inmates from the Henry Daly yard coming on for the run. Having won two Hunter Chases earlier this year, Spring Margot showed gameness to score here last time. He beat Cyborg de Sou, who ran a good race at Catterick yesterday before blundering. A winner at Warwick in January, Dark Corner may not have won since but he been lightly campaigned. He ran well when runner-up at Perth, but then unseated his rider at the second when made faourite at Kelso next time. He looks progressive, and as that was the first time he has failed to complete in eleven starts, Dark Corner can come back into the spotlight here.
Dark Corner 4-5fav (10-9) Led, mistake 1st, blundered and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Water Taxi (11-0) at Kelso 2m 1f beg chs (4) gs in Nov, 6 ran.
John Forbes 5-1 (10-13) Jumped slowly, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 6th in race won by Sunday City (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Mage d'Estruval (FR) 11-4fav (11-1) With leader, led 8th until 11th, led 12th to 13th, led again 4 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) hvy in Mar beating Lord Rodney (11-12) by 9l, 6 ran.
Bang And Blame (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Led to 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 7, 43l behind Spring Margot (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Spring Margot (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, led 3 out, kept on under pressure flat, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov beating Cyborg De Sou (11-0) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Nirvana Swing (FR) 28-1 (10-9) Behind when blundered and unseated rider at the 14th in race won by Delray Beach (10-6) at Hexham 4m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov, 13 ran.
