behind, mistake 1st, headway to chase leaders after 3rd, blundered 10th, soon lost place, weakened 6 out, soon tailed off
mid-division, mistakes 1st and 3rd, slow 8th, under pressure in 3rd 5 out, weakened after 2 out, lost 3rd closing stages
prominent, jumped left 2nd, soon held up in touch, blundered badly and unseated rider 11th
made all, not fluent 4th, driven after 3 out, not fluent last, stayed on gamely
chased leaders, mistakes 1st and 2nd, soon lost place, under pressure 11th, soon tailed off
behind, headway 12th, weakened 6 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 6 out, blundered 4 out, kept on under pressure into 3rd towards finish, never able to challenge
behind, mistake 1st, blundered badly 13th, soon beaten, pulled up 6 out
always prominent, driven 5 out, stayed on to challenge approaching last, kept on well under pressure
Aintree My Dream has won three times over hurdles and was set a stiff task at Chepstow on his chasing debut behind Finian’s Oscar, rated 151. He should fare better in this grade but Cooking Fat remains 9lb higher than when scoring over fences at Perth during the summer. POLYDORA is another with chasing experience having finished third at Aintree in October on his first start over the larger obstacles. He should go well over these fences on that evidence and gets the nod. Jack Devine has a recent win over timber under his belt while Rock My Style landed a double over hurdles at the start of the year and both are preferred to Caventara as all three make their chasing bow.
Aintree My Dream (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Jumped right at times, led and set good pace, pushed along and headed 4 out, soon no chance with winner, mistake 3 out, weakened and lost 2nd run-in, 3rd of 4, 14 3/4l behind Finian's Oscar (11-2) at Chepstow 2m 3f lst (1) gs in Oct.
Jack Devine (IRE) 11-4jfav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, soon poised to challenge, led before last, ridden out flat, kept on, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov beating Craig Star (10-10) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Rock My Style (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Prominent, led 2nd, headed after 3rd, led 5th until next, challenged 2 out, led last, edged right flat, driven out, won at Chepstow 3m (4) hvy in Feb beating This Is It (11-5) by nk, 7 ran.
Polydora (IRE) 4-1 (11-4) Prominent, led 6th, headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression with front pair before last, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Molly The Dolly (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Didero Vallis (FR) 13-2 (11-7) Chased leaders early, 6th at 3rd, 9th at 8th, headway and effort straight, kept on same pace without threatening from 2 out, 3rd of 15, 5 3/4l behind Benkei (11-5) at Killarney 2m 6f hcp gd in May.
Cooking Fat 13-2 (11-12) Behind, headway 12th, chasing leaders when blundered 5 out, under pressure 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 26 3/4l behind Looksnowtlikebrian (11-11) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Donna's Delight (IRE) 18-1 (11-2) In rear when badly hampered 1st, never dangerous, 7th of 13, dist behind Count Meribel (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Caventara 11-2 (11-6) Prominent, led before 2 out, pressed from last, hard ridden run-in, held on well towards finish, won at Ayr 2m 4f mdn (5) hvy in Jan beating Ardean Lass (10-13) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Late Romantic (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, blundered 4th, went 2nd after not fluent 7th, about 2 lengths off winner when rider got unbalanced and was unseated just before last, at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (4) hvy in Apr.
