held up, headway 4 out, went 2nd next, ridden and closing when switched left flat, stayed on to lead final strides
tracked leaders, challenged after 8th, led 4 out, jumped left 3 out, mistake next, driven flat, headed last strides
held up, headway 4th, ridden after 8th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
led until 8th, weakening when mistake, bumped and unseated rider 2 out
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, ridden after next, outpaced before 3 out, no chance when jumped left, bumped and left 4th 2 out, mistake last, tailed off
prominent, led 8th until mistake 4 out, 3rd and beaten when not fluent 2 out
Four of these failed to complete last time and some of the fences here can be a little tricky to negotiate. Lucinda Russell fits Balnagore with a visor in an attempt to cure his clumsiness but he's more exposed than the likes of The Cockney Mackem and Otto Quercus. Nigel Twiston-Davies' five-year-old is making his chasing debut having failed to get his head in front over hurdles but preference is for QUITE THE MAN. Malcolm Jefferson usually has his novices well prepared and his victory over the smaller obstacles at Market Rasen last winter has worked out well. Sky Calling shot up in the weights after winning at Worcester in May but is still preferred to the exposed C&D winner The Paddy Premium of the others.
Quite The Man (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway after 3rd, reminders after 6th, not fluent next, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 13, 25l behind I Can Run Can You (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
The Cockney Mackem (IRE) 5-4fav (11-0) Held up in touch, led 2 out, ridden and joined when fell last, in a race won by Definite All Star (11-0) at Perth 2m NH mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr, 15 ran.
Sky Calling 15-2 (10-5) Fell 1st, in a race won by Sunday City (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
The Paddy Premium (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) With leader, led 7th, headed narrowly 3 out, regained lead after next, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure flat, won at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun beating Balnagore (10-3) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Otto Quercus (FR) 10-1 (10-1) In rear, headway 4 out, about 6 lengths 2nd when fell last, in a race won by Altan Khan (11-6) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Balnagore 9-4 (10-10) Held up early, ridden 3out, well held in 2nd when fell last, in a race won by Manger Hanagment (11-12) at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug, 4 ran.
