led, headed 4 out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, left 3rd 2 out, no impression
chased leader, led 4 out, soon headed, led again approaching 2 out, soon clear
held up, weakened before halfway, pulled up before 14th
held up, left poor 4th 2 out, no impression
held up, disputing 3rd and held when fell 2 out
chased leaders, weakened after 4 out
held up mid-division, led after 4 out, headed approaching 2 out, weakened between last 2
TOT OF THE KNAR looks the class act to land this novice chase, while Toby Jug and Surenaga both warrant respect. The selection has switched stables recently and now leaves Wales as she descends on the yard of Paul Nicholls having previously been trained by Alison Thorpe, Peter Bowen and Tim Vaughan. The mare has a good strike rate of five wins from sixteen runs and was rated as high as 135 over hurdles at her best. She landed a novice chase at Worcester on her penultimate outing and the owners must not have been happy when she was defeated into third place at the same venue last time out. She is the pick on paper and if recapturing her best she will be difficult to oppose. Toby Jug does not win as often as he ought to but regularly runs well in defeat. His sole success came in March at Hexham in a novice chase but he has struggled to repeat that win with a penalty since. He is sure to run another solid race but could once again find one too good. Surenaga is relatively lightly raced and gained success on his first outing over fences at Stratford in June. Again he has failed to repeat that effort in two runs back in his native Ireland but may well fair better this time around so is one to note in the market. Tot Of The Knar ought to be good enough to win again to keep her owners happy for the short term.
Black Anshan (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Jumped right, led to 3 out, led briefly flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Fairoak Lad (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f nov stks (4) gf in Aug.
Surenaga (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, 9th halfway, headway in 6th before straight, 3rd 3 out, ridden in 4th 2 out, no extra in 5th last, kept on same pace, 6th of 11, 14l behind Bideford Legend (11-1) at Killarney 2m 4f nov stks in Aug.
Toby Jug 9-2 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, closer in 6th 4 out, 5th from next, kept on without threatening under pressure from after 2 out, 3rd of 12, 6l behind The Fonze (11-3) at Tramore 2m 6f chs gf in Aug.
Beautiful Vision (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, no impression from 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 16, well behind Sonnium (11-6) at Tipperary 2m 7f beg chase gd in Jun.
Irish Legend (IRE) 5-1 (11-5) Held up behind, took closer order after 6th, ridden and weakened 3 out, 5th of 6, 38l behind Midnight Chase (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Feb.
Keoghs Bar (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Always behind, pulled up before 6 out, in a race won by Dual Gales (11-9) at Galway 2m 4f nh nov hdl sft in Jul, 9 ran.
Will The Till 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division, weakened 9th, 12th of 15, well behind Quattrocento (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Tot Of The Knar 5-6fav (11-0) Held up, headway and in touch after 5th, left chasing winner 4 out, lost 2nd last, ridden and kept on flat, 3rd of 5, 5l behind Carrick Oscar (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f noc chs (4) gs in Aug.
