chased leader until 3rd, chased leading pair until 6th, lost place and behind 10th, tailed off
chased leading pair, close 2nd at 3rd, blundered 2 out, ridden and closer approaching last, stayed on well run-in to lead towards finish
held up in last pair, hit 11th, closer in 3rd 4 out, never on terms with leading duo, dropped to 4th between last 2
led, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and joined after the last, headed and unable to quicken towards finish
held up, good headway chasing leaders 5th, 3rd approaching 9thnever on terms with leading duo, lost 3rd 4 out, soon outpaced and weakened
held up last, plugged on into 3rd between last 2, no chance with leading duo
Tonto's Spirit won the novices’ chase on this card 12 months ago but recent form has left a bit to be desired. Oak Vintage and MY RENAISSANCE (NAP) are course specialists and the latter came right back to form over 2m here eight days ago having fallen to a very lenient mark. Despite the penalty, he is still thrown in on his best form. Raecius Felix won a shade cosily at Kelso but will have to defy a 6lb rise to record a second career success and Mistercobar was beaten off a lower mark at Uttoxeter last time.
Tonto's Spirit 50-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, taken back to race in midfield, pushed along 3f out, weakened from over 2f out, 7th of 8, 22 1/4l behind Genesius (9-2) at Hamilton 1m 4f hcp (5) gs in Sep.
Raecius Felix (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Led 1st until 2nd, led 3rd, soon headed, led 7th, asserting when mistake last, comfortably, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Fresh New Dawn (11-11) by 5l, 8 ran.
Mistercobar (FR) 9-1 (11-11) Held up, slow 4th, headway 4 out, ridden after 3 out, close up 2 out, ran on but no chance with winner after last, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Simply Loveleh (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Oak Vintage (IRE) 11-2 (11-7) Led, not fluent 3rd, headed 6th, led again soon after 8th, headed 10th, tracked winner until riden 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 6, 32 3/4l behind Thomas Todd (11-13) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Swinton Diamond (IRE) 18-1 (10-0) Fell 2nd, at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
My Renaissance 4-1 (10-0) Mid-division, much closer 4 out, travelling easily when pressed leader 2 out, took over heading to the last, 6 lengths clear jumping last, extended advantage run in, comfortable, won at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep beating Beautiful Ben (11-7) by 12l, 8 ran.
