tracked leader, blundered 12th, shaken up after 2 out, ridden and pressed leader after last, kept on but always held
made all, awkward 10th, ridden and faced challenge after last, stayed on well, always doing enough
detached in rear by 5th, tailed off and pulled up with a circuit to go
NonRunner
Balkardy turns up in search of a four-timer over fences and has shown a doughty attitude to get home the last twice. It's hard to know just how much improvement there is left in the tank but he certainly commands respect., although he is stepping up significantly in trip here. Paul Nicholls runs two of the four and SKATMAN would appear to first string with Harry Cobden up. He came home alone last time but did jump well over this course and distance and is taken to follow up with his stamina assured. In comparison, Hell Red has only run over more than two and a half miles once and was well beaten, so there has to be a question mark over him at this trip. Crisis Of Identity has been well beaten on all starts.
Balkardy (FR) 11-4 (11-9) Led until 1st, handy, jumped right 6th, challenged 4 out, led flat, stayed on, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in May beating Pencreek (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Hell Red (FR) 5-4fav (11-4) Led, pushed along and headed 3 out, soon ridden, lost 2nd before next, weakened and lost remote 3rd run-in, last of 4, 22 1/2l behind Byzantine Empire (10-8) at Southwell 2m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Crisis Of Identity (IRE) 50-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along in rear 5th, detached 8th, tailed off before 9th, no impression, 5th of 6, dist behind Drumlee Watar (11-4) at Worcester 2m 7f (3) gd in Jul.
Skatman (IRE) 8-11fav (11-8) Led until 10th, chased leader, urged along before 14th, not fluent next, pecked 16th, pushed along before 3 out, ridden to lead and going best when left alone 2 out, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
