held up towards rear, not fluent 3 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, led 11th, blundered 4 out, ridden and not fluent 2 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened
chased leaders, weakened from last
led to 11th, ridden approaching 2 out, weakened approaching last
held up, in rear from 8th, hit 11th, chased leaders next, stayed on towards finish, just held
towards rear, chased leaders approaching 7th, blundered 10th, pulled up before 4 out
held up, chased leaders after 4 out, led approaching last, kept on
He's A Hotshot deserves to get his head in front having found one too good in each of his last two starts but Gordon Elliott's gelding may have to settle for minor honours again having been raised another 1lb for his latest effort over course and distance and preference is for ALAGON, who gets the vote over Trafalgar Man. Micky Hammond's gelding comes into this in good heart having won his last two starts at Hexham, and he has to respected, but a 7lb higher mark makes this tougher for him. John Wainwright's Accordion Roilelet won a maiden hunter chase at Cartmel very comfortably last time and he has to be considered back in a handicap today. Toulouse Express was all out to get the better of Polar Gale at Sedgefield last month and a 4lb rise for that success looks harsh, while Paperchaser faces no easy task from 3lbs out of the handicap proper. The vote then goes to Lucinda Russell's Alagon, who ran well off a mark of 90 over hurdles here last time having run well on his chasing debut at Worcester previously and he looks well treated off a mark of 92 for his first start in a handicap over fences.
He's A Hotshot (IRE) 4-1 (10-9) Chased leaders and keen, led 4 out, headed next, jumped left 2 out, stayed on well, 2nd of 9, 3l behind Pilca (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in May.
Trafalgar Man (IRE) 2-1fav (10-5) Tracked leader, led 6th, made rest, stayed on strongly flat, won at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun beating Eborarry (10-5) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Fortis Et Fidelis (IRE) 20-1 (10-10) Prominent, ridden in 2nd entering straight, soon weakened, 6th of 16, 14l behind Waterville (11-3) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp chs 0-102 hvy in May.
Toulouse Express (IRE) 14-1 (9-10) Led to 7th, with leader, led again 10th, joined 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun beating Polar Gale (10-6) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Accordion Roilelet (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Held up, smooth headway approaching 4 out, led flat, driven out, won at Cartmel 2m 5f hts chs (6) gd in May beating Double Gem (11-5) by 7l, 12 ran.
Alagon (IRE) 15-2 (10-3) Made most, hit and headed last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Pete (10-6) at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Paperchaser 14-1 (10-0) Towards rear, headway and prominent 4 out, every chance last, one pace, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Uptown Lad (9-7) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Jun.
