tracked winner until 10th and again 4 out, challenged 3 out, led next, hung right and idled flat, headed towards finish, stayed on close home
held up in touch in rear, not fluent 4 out, soon weakened, well behind before 2 out, pulled up after
tracked leaders, hung left on bend after 8th, went 2nd 10th until not fluent 4 out, not fluent next, soon weakened
led, joined 3 out, headed next, stayed on gamely to lead again towards finish
Ainsi Fideles beat a useful sort in Lamb Or Cod at Newton Abbot earlier this month and is now four from four over fences. His weight-for-age allowance has certainly come in useful but he only gets 2lb here from SPLASH OF GINGE (NAP). All eyes will be on Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge as he makes his debut over the larger obstacles as he was a very smart novice hurdler last season, winning the Grade 3 Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February and chasing home Lac Fontana in a Grade 1 at Aintree in April over this longer trip - he should have too much class for these if his jumping is up to scratch. Howwoulduno beat Steps To Freedom at Punchestown in May and is no mug but this is a big ask for Cartmel scorer Reaping The Reward and Crown Theatre and Moss Street were both engaged here yesterday.
Howwoulduno (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Slowly away, soon made up ground in rear, pushed along before 2 out, ridden into 5th after last, 4th 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 6, 8l behind Alelchi Inois (11-8) at Galway 2m 1f nov chs (1) gf.
Reaping The Reward (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, headway 9th, went 2nd 2 out, led just before bend turning for home, headed final 150 yards, stayed on to lead again towards finish, won at Cartmel 2m 5f beg chs (4) gd in Aug beating Fantasy King (11-7) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Splash of Ginge 12-1 (11-4) Chased leader, led before 3 out, ridden run-in, kept on and headed last 100 yards, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Lac Fontana (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr.
Ainsi Fideles (FR) 8-11fav (10-13) Tracked leader and clear of rest, led after 8th, made rest, clear when ridden between last 2, stayed on, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd beating Lamb Or Cod (11-12) by 25l, 4 ran.
Crown Theatre (IRE) 7-4 (11-4) Held up at slow pace, improved to track leaders 5 out, 4th 3 out, progress when short of room between last 2 and switched left, 3rd at last, no impression and kept on run-in, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Island Villa (11-4) at Clonmel 2m mdn hdl gd.
Moss Street 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd 4 out, soon ridden, weakened from before 2 out, last of 7, 19l behind Pires (10-11) at Down Royal 2m hdl 0-123 gf in Aug.
