led, headed after 4th, weakened before 3 out
tracked leader, not fluent 3rd (water), led 5th until 6th, ridden and every chance from 3 out, no impression final 100 yards
tracked leaders, jumped left and not fluent 2nd, led after 4th, headed 5th, led again next, mistake 2 out, stayed on well to draw clear final 100 yards
held up, took keen hold, not fluent 1st or 4th, headway 6th, weakened before 2 out
held up, headway 4th, close 3rd when mistake 2 out, no impression last, stayed on one pace
led into start, held up, mistake 2nd, not fluent 6th, well beaten before 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place when jumped slowly 4th, well beaten before 3 out
Peter Buchanan has chosen Morning Time of the Lucinda Russell pair and his mount was unlucky last time though he's still a maiden and has had plenty of chances. Richo has never won over jumps and was beaten easily enough when runner-up at Towcester so it's VOSGES who gets the vote, despite a losing run stretching over two years as he's dropped to his lowest handicap mark as a consequence and hasn't run badly on his two latest starts. Celtic Intrigue has had very little experience over fences and is one of the few with scope.
Vosges (FR) 5-1 (11-5) With leader, led 3rd to 5th, with leader, driven after 3 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, 4th of 8, 14l behind Peak Seasons (9-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Celtic Intrigue (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) In touch in mid-division, ridden and no impression after 9th, stayed on from 3 out, not able to get on terms, 4th of 12, 11l behind Mount Welcome (10-11) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Cloverhill Lad (IRE) 14-1 (9-9) Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, ridden after 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, no extra last, 4th of 5, 14l behind Kykate (11-8) at Kelso 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Crackerjack Lad (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) Held up in last pair in touch, headway 7th, effort 4 out, kept on same pace under pressure in 3rd from next, not reach leading pair, 3rd of 5, 2 3/4l behind Silver Steel (11-5) at Perth 2m hcp 0-100 (5) hvy in Aug.
Morning Time (IRE) 11-2 (10-9) Held up behind, headway 7th, 5 lengths down in 3rd and one pace when brought down 3 out, in a race won by Sleep In First (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Apr, 12 ran.
Richo 15-2 (9-12) Held up in last trio, blundered 8th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no impression with winner, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Peak Seasons (9-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Snooze N You Lose 100-1 (9-8) Always towards rear, pulled up, in a race won by Knight Woodsman (11-0) at Musselburgh 3m Am hcp ch 0-100 (5) gd in Feb, 10 ran.
