chased leader, slow at 8th (water), led approaching 4 out, clear when went right 2 out, mistake and went right last, tired and ridden out flat
chased leaders, blundered 10th, weakened next, tailed off
raced keenly, led, went left 1st, headed before 4 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 10th, chased leaders, went 2nd 4 out, no chance with winner 2 out, blundered last
held up, not fluent 4th and 6th, steady headway 11th, went 3rd after 4 out, blundered 3 out, no chance with winner next, disputing 2nd when blundered last
ROB CONTI still had every chance when stumbling and slithering to a virtual standstill at the last on his chasing bow at Hereford. That wasn't a particularly strong race but he looks to have an aptitude for chasing and has to go on the short-list here off bottom weight. Wetherby winner Stonethrower should go well again while the versatile Priceless Art has won over this trip over hurdles and Freddie Brown has to be considered back up in distance. Gordon Elliott's Definite All Star and C&D victor Blazin White Face aren't out of it either.
Stonethrower (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Jumped right at times, made virtually all, ridden approaching 4 out, went markedly right last 3, stayed on gamely, won at Wetherby 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in May beating Sagredo (10-12) by 5l, 5 ran.
Priceless Art (IRE) 9-4 (11-12) Chased winner until 4th, pushed along before 8th, soon outpaced, last of 3, 37l behind Arctic Ben (11-10) at Haydock 2m nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Freddie Brown 11-4fav (11-3) Led, mistake 5th, blundered 2 out, joined and hit last, driven and kept on until headed towards finish, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Swift Arrow (11-6) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Blazin White Face (IRE) 15-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 5 out, went 2nd before 3 out, led 3 out, clear after last, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in May beating Red Kingdom (11-4) by 6l, 11 ran.
Rob Conti (FR) 4-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 9th to track leaders, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, headed before and blundered last, weakened and lost 2 places towards finish, 4th of 7, 12l behind Brimham Boy (10-8) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Definite All Star (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Waited with towards rear, progress on inner from 3 out, 4th after next, soon no impression, moderate 5th and kept on same pace from before last, 5th of 15, 13l behind Mister Benedictine (10-10) at Ballinrobe 2m 4f hcp hdl 80-109 gf in May.
