held up, lost touch with leaders after 11th, no impression when mistake 2 out
led to 4th, led before 7th until 9th, regained lead after 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened last
chased leader, led 4th until before 7th, led 9th until after 11th, ridden to regain lead when hit 2 out, drew clear from last and stayed on well
prominent, lost place 9th, mistake 10th, lost touch with leaders after next, stayed on from 3 out, went 3rd 2 out
held up in touch, jumped slowly 8th, soon pushed along, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
jumped left and bumped 1st, held up in mid-division, headway 7th, close 3rd when mistake 12th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up, bumped 1st, hit 3rd, headway 10th, went 3rd after 12th, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up before last
held up, hampered 1st, not fluent 3rd, hit 4th, progress when mistake 11th, disputed 3rd 3 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
Withdrawn
Stern, Schuh Shine and Fool on the Hill are the shortlisted trio and Stern can take advantage of the weight he receives from his rivals. Schuh Shine scored first time out last season at Sandown and later scored at Haydock last season. He is a consistent type and comes from a yard who are flying at the moment but may just be a little high in the weights so is taken on. Philip Hobbs¿ Fool On The Hill won well at Stratford in May but has not won since, suffering from a high handicap mark. He may need to retreat down the weights to score again. Stern has clearly had his problems but comes here on the back of a very promising debut over fences, where a mistake at the last probably cost im the race. He won his only start the previous season and Emma Lavelle, who has been in good form this week, believes he has a good chance here provided the ground is not too testing. The hint should be taken, and Stern is the selection.
Fool On The Hill 33-1 (11-5) Held up, blundered 2nd, headway when blundered 3 out, soon beaten, 5th of 10, 19l behind Darby Wall (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Schuh Shine (IRE) 28-1 (10-3) Led to 3rd, chased leaders to 13th, weakened after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Innox (11-0) at Sandown 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Longshanks 12-1 (11-2) In touch, ridden 16th, weakened next, 7th of 13, 41l behind Joaaci (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Jan.
Out The Black (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Prominent, led 3 out, soon hard ridden, left 2 lengths clear last, drifted left, in front just before post when slipped up in race won by Charlies Future (10-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Mixsterthetrixster (USA) 11-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway 9th, every chance 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 11, 13l behind Cameron Bridge (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Jun.
Mister Apple's (FR) 17-2 (10-12) Tracked leader 3rd to 9th, weakened rapidly and pulled up at the 10th in race won by Super Lord (10-12) at Windsor 3m nov hdl (E) gd in Nov '05, 7 ran.
Regal Term (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, in 4th when fell at the 3rd in race won by Supreme Catch (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 7 ran.
Stern (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Held up, blundered 4th, headway 9th, challenging when mistake last, held run-in, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Master T (11-10) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Alphabetical (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, well behind 3 out, 16th of 20, 49l behind After Midnight (9-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f cnd hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Direct Flight (IRE) 7-1 (10-8) Mid-division, progress 6 out, 4th next, 5th and ridden 3 out, 7th when fell at the 9th in race won by Euro Leader (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 gd in Apr, 13 ran.
