held up in rear, steady headway from 3 out, never nearer
took keen hold in rear, weakened 4 out
in touch, weakened 7th
mid-division, headway 3 out, chased leader next, led after last, soon strongly challenged, headed and no extra final strides
in touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up next
prominent, every chance when not fluent last, weakened flat
chased leaders, effort 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway approaching 7th, chased leaders 2 out, ridden to challenge approaching last, soon every chance, stayed on to lead close home
behind, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place after 5th, behind from 3 out
chased leaders, every chance 2 out, soon hard ridden, weakened last
led, hard ridden and strongly challenged from 2 out, headed after, no extra
Son of Flicka won at the Cheltenham Festival in March but he's finished well beaten in two starts this term. Topolski continues to disappoint while Kasbadali is still 9lb higher than when scoring at Ascot in the spring and has been chasing lately. Arkose is on a hat-trick but has gone up another 9lb and drops in distance while Big Easy continues to creep up the weights despite not winning. GILBARRY hasn't raced over hurdles since 2010 but is rated 14lb higher over fences so may have been let in lightly today. He could spring a surprise here though Amigo could also be worth a second look off bottom weight.
Sam Winner (FR) 11-8 (10-7) Held up 4th and last in touch, tracked leading pair 8th, 2 lengths down in 3rd and going well when fell 3 out, in a race won by Solix (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gd in Dec '11, 4 ran.
Son Of Flicka 40-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, tailed off before 4 out, 13th of 16, well behind Trustan Times (11-12) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Nov.
Big Easy (GER) 14-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, jumped slowly 2nd, headway when not fluent 3 out, never able to get on terms with leaders, 5th of 23, 19l behind Bondage (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Kasbadali (FR) 13-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, bumped 4th, blundered and dropped to last at 10th, mistake and stumbled 12th, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Highland Lodge (11-3) at Towcester 3m Beginners Chase (0-140) (4yo+) (3) gs in Nov.
Lightning Strike (GER) 20-1 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3rd, weakened after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Alpha Victor (10-8) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May, 20 ran.
Arkose (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, challenged 4 out, led before 3 out, ridden clear before last, kept on strongly, won at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Nov beating Greenlaw (11-8) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
Art Professor (IRE) 18-1 (10-3) In rear, ridden after 5th, well beaten 8th, 10th of 17, 34l behind Native Gallery (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Araldur (FR) 6-1 (10-9) Held up, mistake 5th, jumped slowly next (water), last and given reminder, not fluent 9th, well beaten 11th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Aerial (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
Gilbarry (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) In mid-division until blundered and fell 8th, in a race won by Al Ferof (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 18 ran.
Hollins 9-2 (11-2) Never jumped with any fluency, in rear, blundered 8th, some headway approaching next, slow and driven next, tailed off, blundered last, 5th of 6, 32l behind Ballycolin (11-2) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Nov '11.
Cloudy Bob (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) In touch on outside, outpaced approaching 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from last, no impression, 5th of 18, 18l behind Double Ross (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft in Nov.
Amigo (FR) (10-5) 7th of 8, 29l behind Pythagore (10-12) at Enghien(FR) 2m 6f chs gs in Apr.
Topolski (IRE) 50-1 (11-9) Behind, outpaced after 4 out, no impression when mistake and unseated rider next, in a race won by At Fishers Cross (10-10) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft, 10 ran.
