towards rear, badly hampered 3rd, tailed off when pulled up 8th
in touch, ridden 13th, left 2nd 4 out, hard ridden, led soon after last, all out
tracked leaders, lost place and behind 3rd, tailed off soon after, struggled home
led, headed 6th, reminders 8th, weakened 15th, remote 4th when refused 2 out
prominent, hit 4th, led 6th, headed 8th, lost place quickly, jumped slowly 14th and pulled up soon after
in touch, ridden and left poor 3rd 4 out, hampered by loose horse on bend approaching 2 out, not recover
in rear and not jumped well, pulled up before 3rd
keen in mid-division, weakened 14th, tailed off when refused 2 out
towards rear when fell 3rd
in touch and jumped right throughout, went 2nd 13th, left in lead after 4 out, all out when headed soon after last
tracked leaders, led 8th, fell 4 out
Making it onto the short list in the finale are Satco's Deception, Hehasalife and Nanard, with the selection being Hehasalife. The selection gets the vote based on the fact that he now races from just a pound above his Bangor On Dee winning mark of September 2006. Remarkably, his record shows that he has won three times and been pulled up six times in his last 11 races. He is clearly a player here if on one of his good days. Although he was disappointing here last time, Satco's Deception had earlier won over course and distance from a mark of 87 (he races off 89 today) and clearly can go well. Nanard comes into it based on the fact that his chasing debut last time suggested promise. Many of the others have it to prove based on recent efforts but the Philip Hobbs-trained Bossy Missy is one to watch out for on her chasing debut and The Wexford Man has suggested that he is capable of winning races, although he has yet to prove he fully stays today's trip. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Hehasalife.
Satco's Deception (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Never better than mid-division, 7th of 12, 26l behind Millards Lad (10-8) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
Optimistic Alfie 12-1 (10-10) Tracked leader and keen, led after 10th, headed next, weakened 15th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Super Judge (11-5) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
Nanard (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Led, ridden when blundered 3 out, soon headed weakened last, 4th of 8, 8l behind Longueville Manor (11-5) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Hehasalife (IRE) 18-1 (10-9) Behind, mistake 1st, effort when hit 14th and pulled up 4 out in race won by Millards Lad (10-8) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul, 12 ran.
Bossy Missy 5-2fav (10-8) In touch, chased leaders 4th, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 11, 35l behind Superfly (10-8) at N Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jul.
Over Bridge 16-1 (11-0) In touch, lost place 5th, behind, 11th of 15, 49l behind Wotashambles (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jul.
Another Jewel (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) In rear, mistake 2nd, always behind, 10th of 15, 48l behind Wotashambles (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Jul.
The Wexford Man (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened after 3 out, hung left approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 14, 12l behind Blue Sovereign (11-6) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Jul.
