chased leaders, ridden along before 10th, driven in 5th after 12th, plugged on
never going towards rear, tailed off 10th
held up towards rear, good headway 9th, tracked leaders next, went 3rd on inside before 2 out, every chance last, driven and kept on flat, just held close home
chased leaders, went 2nd 6th, led after 9th, hit 4 out, headed before next, lost 2nd after 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
led, headed after 9th, jumped slowly and weakened next, tailed off
chased leader until 6th, went 2nd again before 10th, hit next, led approaching 3 out, strongly pressed last, rider dropped whip flat, held on gamely and always doing enough close home
behind, ridden and struggling 8th, tailed off
chased leaders until ridden and weakened 10th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place after 2nd, behind and never a factor after, plugged on
in touch, good headway to chase leaders 11th, chased winner after 3 out, challenged 2 out, every chance last, stayed on well flat, held close home
behind, reminders after 4th and again 7th, tailed off 10th
Difficult to be over-confident about any of these, several of which are back over fences after a spell hurdling. The Fox's Decree has been in decent form over the smaller obstacles lately and must have some sort of chance while Lord Lescribaa is usually thereabouts around here but doesn't win very often. Fairhaven's form under Rules is modest, however, while Skipper's Lad was pulled up on his reappearance here last month and would prefer further. BE ASHORED needs more if he's to get off the mark over fences but he's now fitted with a visor and is well enough treated if it has the desired effect - he gets the nod.
The Fox's Decree 9-2fav (11-2) Mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, challenged next, kept on and every chance until ridden and one pace flat, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Quaddick Lake (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.
Skipper's Lad (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden and not fluent 15th, weakened and struggling after next, well beaten 4th 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Lansdowne Princess (10-2) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul, 9 ran.
Roybuoy 18-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, blundered 7th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Lutin Du Moulin (10-9) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Jun, 11 ran.
Lahib The Fifth (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders early, mid-division, struggling before 3 out, 7th of 15, 27l behind On The Bridge (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Fairhaven (IRE) 28-1 (10-1) Led to 6th, with leader, lost place before 2 out, weakened before last, 5th of 14, 16l behind Trackmate (11-8) at Stratford 2m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jul.
Lord Lescribaa (FR) 6-1 (10-7) Chased leader until ridden before 14th, outpaced next, wen modest 4th after 4 out, plugged on, tailed off, 4th of 9, 28l behind Lansdowne Princess (10-2) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
Pierre Dubh (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Towards rear and pushed along, reminders after 5th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Billy Blade (10-13) at Worcester 2m 7f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Jul, 12 ran.
Be Ashored 3-1 (10-10) Mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 9, 36l behind Strobe (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Jul.
Rash Moment (FR) 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 11, well behind Green To Gold (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jul.
Legends Lass 20-1 (10-10) Held up behind on outside, headway under pressure 8th, soon chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, switched inside and chased leading pair approaching last, kept on same pace, no impression, 3rd of 11, 7l behind Green To Gold (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jul.
Red Law (IRE) 10-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, struggling 5th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Green To Gold (11-10) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jul, 11 ran.
