tracked leader from 5th, ridden 3 out, led 2 out, hung left approaching last, ridden out
led, ridden 3 out, headed 2 out, soon beaten
towards rear and mistake 1st, brief effort 12th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, outpaced 10th, stayed on again from 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out
towards rear, plugged on through beaten horses
mid-division, mistake 9th, soon behind, pulled up before 12th
tracked leaders, blundered 9th, weakened next
towards rear, effort and some progress 11th, soon ridden and weakened 3 out
always in rear
This race does not lack for interest and, in it, our selection is Gan Eagla, who gets the vote ahead of Irish Wolf and Vaughan. He may not be entirely straightforward but Vaughan has won his two novice chases contested so far emphatically and has to be granted full respect here. Berengario won well over course and distance last time - when he beat Annie Fleetwood - and could go well, while Gan Eagla looked decent when scoring over fences last time on his first run for Evan Williams. He gets full respect too. Grand Slam Hero jumped well when winning over course and distance last time, though this is tougher, while Irish Wolf is the highest-rated of these runners and he has done little wrong over fences, his defeat last time probably coming as a consequence of the soft going. He will appreciate the quicker going today. Cresswell Willow has now won two chases and is not without a shout, while Penny Pictures is weighted to get close to Grand Slam Hero based on their recent course meeting. It all adds up to an interesting contest, in which the selection is Gan Eagla.
Vaughan 7-2 (11-6) Chased leader, led 3 out, clear when went left, blundered badly last, ran on, won at Stratford 2m 4f nov chs (3) gf in Jun beating Tessanoora (10-13) by 6l, 6 ran.
Berengario (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Soon tracking leaders, ridden after 4 out, led after 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at N Abbot 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Jul beating Annie Fleetwood (10-13) by 10l, 11 ran.
Gan Eagla (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Made all, jumped left, hit last, kept on, won at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) gf in May beating Armariver (11-3) by 4l, 6 ran.
Grand Slam Hero (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Mistake 1st, held up, headway 12th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, in command last, comfortably, won at N Abbot 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Jul beating Adopted Hero (11-9) by 5l, 9 ran.
Irish Wolf (FR) 4-9fav (11-6) Held up in touch, not fluent, headway 10th, led 2 out, headed approaching last, kept on, same pace, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Crathorne (11-6) at Hexham 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Jun.
Cresswell Willow (IRE) 11-4 (10-7) Led, headed 2nd, led again 12th, ridden 3 out, pressed when fell at the last in race won by Sultan Fontenaille (10-11) at Stratford 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Jul, 8 ran.
Brigadier Benson (IRE) 6-1 (11-9) Led until 5th, tracked leaders, ridden approaching 10th, weakened 11th and pulled up in race won by Grand Slam Hero (11-9) at N Abbot 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Jul, 9 ran.
Garston Star 10-1 (11-6) Led until 3rd, led 8th until 12th, ridden and every chance 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 11, 13l behind Berengario (11-9) at N Abbot 2m 5f beg chs (4) gs in Jul.
