led and jumped right throughout, ridden after 6th, headed 3 out, no chance after
held up behind, ridden after 5th, soon lost touch, pulled up after 6th
in touch, headway 6th, joined leader 7th, led 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra
prominent, lost place 6th, ridden and outpaced approaching next, stayed on approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, no extra flat
chased leader, ridden and slightly outpaced 3 out, took closer order approaching 2 out, soon led, ridden and not fluent last, kept on gamely flat
A poor race in numbers and form here but we will side with Creinch to get his head in front while both Blandings Castle and Colliers Court are ones to note. The selection won a handicap hurdle at Bangor in April and had jumped well until coming to grief at the last on his chase debut at Sedgefield last week. This might come a little quick but this is not a great race and if his confidence has not been knocked he can make amends here. Blandings Castle won back to back races over course and distance last summer and was raised ten pounds for it accordingly. He has his first outing of the new campaign so fitness would have to be a worry but his trainer knows the time of day so he is respected. Colliers Court is another horse to have won a couple of times last summer but has really failed to recapture that form since then so is possibly best watched. So for the winner we return to Creinch.
Colliers Court 17-2 (11-4) Led, mistake 6th, headed 13th, weakened approaching last, 6th of 10, 22l behind Storm of Applause (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Creinch 3-1 (10-12) Led, headed before 2 out, disputing 10 lengths 3rd when fell in race won by Nelson du Ronceray (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m nov chs (4) sft, 5 ran.
Pipers Legend 9-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next, 3rd of 11, 34l behind Haddaaf (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Incorporation 13-2 (11-9) Prominent, ridden 4 out, beaten after 3 out, switched left approaching 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Red Jester (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in May.
Blandings Castle 10-3 (10-13) Prominent, hit 5th, pushed along after 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 6, 27l behind Seeyaaj (11-9) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Ground Breaker 40-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Haddaaf (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gf in May, 11 ran.
