chased leaders, pushed along from 6th, not fluent 8th and 11th, ridden and outpaced before 4 out, rider dropped whip between last 2, rallied to dispute 2nd flat, no impression with winner
tracked winner virtually throughout, ridden before 2 out, soon no impression, kept on when hard pressed for 2nd flat
tracked leaders, hit 15th, reminder before next, never on terms, behind from 4 out
made all, pushed clear approaching 2 out, kept on well
held up in rear, hit 14th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, chased leaders 15th, blundered next, soon ridden and outpaced, no impression after
Generous Chief's recent good form has been over hurdles and he's still 14lb higher than when last successful over fences and that was in a seller. BRAVE ENCOUNTER (NAP) made no impression over the larger obstacles first time around but he's been rejuvenated by a spell hunting and jumped well when making all at Fontwell – he can defy a 7lb rise in the weights. Tikkapick has yet to win a race but looks a better long-term prospect than Bennys Girl and the others.
Generous Chief (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Led until mistake and headed 3rd, lost 2nd approaching next, chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, driven into 3rd between last two, mistake last, stayed on into 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Young Dillon (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Tikkapick (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, outpaced approaching 2 out, headway into 3rd between last two, soon edged right under pressure, kept on run-in, 3rd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Cropley (10-4) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Mount Prospex (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Always behind, hampered 6 out, never dangerous, 7th of 16, 27 3/4l behind Peterbrown (11-11) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Brave Encounter (IRE) 11-4 (10-8) Jumped soundly, made all, clear from 2 out, kept up to work run-in, won at Fontwell 3m 1f hcp (5) gd in Aug beating Breezy Kin (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Whimsical Notion 12-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, never able to challenge, 4th of 11, 14l behind Mister Dick (10-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Bennys Girl (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Held up in touch in last pair, headway on outside before 2 out, 2nd 2 out, hard ridden and one pace run-in, lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Moorlands George (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
