led until 5th, not fluent 8th, led next, clear from 3 out, easily
held up in touch, took keen hold, mistake and lost place 9th, soon behind
held up in rear, took keen hold, not always fluent, headway 9th, beaten before 3 out, left modest 2nd hampered last, demoted to 3rd flat
tracked leaders, lost place when mistake 4th, behind from 7th, tailed off
pressed leader, led 5th, headed 9th, weakening in 4th when jumped right 3 out, left 3rd last, went 2nd flat, no chance with winner
in touch early, held up, lost touch from 4 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, chased winner after 4 out, no impression from next, fell last
Winning hurdler Dunowen Point made a successful start to his chase career when scoring at Cartmel. He has scope for further improvement but will find this tougher under a penalty so we are going to take a chance on the fitness of HELIUM. Nick Gifford's six-year-old lost his way over timber last season but was placed twice over fences in the spring, giving the impression he'll pay his way over the larger obstacles this term. Ashammar returns from a lay-off but is worth noting for future reference and looks a better long-term prospect than either Olympian or the disappointing Tout Regulier.
Dunowen Point (IRE) 4-6fav (11-9) Tracked leader who went clear from 2nd, closed 8th, led on bend turning for home, driven and swishing tail towards finish, won at Cartmel 2m 1f beg chs (5) gf in Jul beating Cool Touch (11-9) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Alfloramoor 9-1 (11-1) Took keen hold early, tracked leading trio, tracked leader 10th until 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, left modest 2nd last, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Streedagh Lady (10-12) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-100 (4) gd in Jul.
Ashammar (FR) 10-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear on inside and keen, steady headway from 5th, ridden to chase winner before last, alwayd held run-in, lost 2nd place when no extra towards finish, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Bear's Affair (11-4) at Southwell 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Jan.
Cloonavery (IRE) 20-1 (10-1) Held up in rear, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace last, 6th of 11, 5l behind Crack At Dawn (11-1) at Worcester 2m hcp 0-90 (5) gd in Jul.
Helium (FR) 9-4 (11-0) Tended to jump right, took keen hold, chased winner 2nd, led narrowly 4th, headed before and hit 8th, led again before 4 out, went right 3 out, headed next, no extra before last, 2nd of 5, 6l behind Barizan (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chase (4) gf in Jun.
Olympian (FR) 33-1 (10-1) Mid-division, weakened 4 out, 15th of 22, 40l behind Eradicate (11-5) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in May.
Tout Regulier (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Pressed leader, led briefly 7th, lost place 4 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, weakened 2 out, 4th of 5, 22l behind Mad Moose (11-1) at Worcester 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd.
