often jumped right, made all, pushed along before 15th, ridden and joined when hit 3 out, (water), driven clear when went right 2 out, hit last
in touch until 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 14th
chased leading pair until 13th, reminder after next, weakened 16th
towards rear, reminder after 6th, weakened 12th
held up in last pair, hit 12th, headway next, weakened before 15th
chased leading trio, went 3rd 13th, stayed on same pace from approaching 2 out, not fluent last
chased winner throughout, blundered 2nd, mistake next, challenged 3 out, ridden before next, soon held
Nonrunner
American Spin was well supported on his chasing debut but never looked comfortable and will need to improve on that to score here. He may well do so with that experience behind him but PALACE JESTER is far more experienced over the larger obstacles and will have no problems with this trip after a good handicap effort behind Financial Climate at Wincanton this month. Wayward Glance is unproven over this trip and has been off off for nearly 200 days but AP McCoy is a noteworthy booking for the Best team and he cannot be ruled out. Well Mett is another danger as he's been transformed by blinkers over hurdles and will threaten if equally proficient on this first run over fences for his in-form yard.
American Spin 7-4fav (11-0) Led, headed before 11th, soon pushed along, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, kept on from last, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Deireadh Re (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f beg chase (4) gs.
Arctic Trail (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear and pushed along early, ridden halfway, no extra 4 out, weakened, 14th of 16, well behind Fitzgutentyte (11-4) at Wexford 2m hcp hdl 80-95 sft in Apr.
Fanjos Luck (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Behind, reminders before 6th, tailed off before 7th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Bach On Tow (10-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf, 18 ran.
Palace Jester 4-1 (11-8) Led, not fluent and headed 4 out, beaten last, edged left flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Financial Climate (10-12) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf.
Russian Song (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, soon ridden along and ran in snatches, stayed on same pace before 2 out, 4th of 11, 7l behind Call Me Sir (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Apr.
Thehorsemaytalk (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Alws pr, 2nd from 4out when dropped back to 3rd on the line, 3rd of 6, 16l behind Our Ned (11-9) at Ballysteen 3m ire ptp gd in Apr.
Wayward Glance 15-2 (11-7) Led until before 4th, led 6th, ridden before next, headed after 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Le Beau Bai (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Well Mett (IRE) 11-8fav (10-4) Tracked leader led from 1st, pressed from 3 out, headed after last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Big Time Billy (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf.
Orvita (FR) 20-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, jumped right at times, not fluent 4th or 12th, ridden before 13th, headway when hit 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Thomas Wild (11-3) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr, 7 ran.