chased leader, led after 6th until mistake next, not fluent next 2, weakened approaching 3 out
held up, went 3rd after 6th, chased leader 9th, challenged 3 out, led next, jumped left last, ridden out
led, clear 2nd, jumped right from next, headed and pulled up after 6th
held up, hit 1st, not fluent 3rd, went 4th after 6th until next, weakened approaching 9th
held up, took keen hold, bumped 2nd, reminder after 6th, went 4th 7th, weakened approaching 4 out
chased leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led next, ridden when mistake 3 out, headed next, slightly hampered last, one pace
Sue Smith's STAGECOACH PEARL has taken time to get the hang of things over fences but he seems to be getting his act together now following wins at Cartmel and Worcester which have seen him earn a rating of 132 and can complete a hat-trick with the main danger rated as Pure Faith. Peter Bowen's gelding did not run up to his best form in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen on his most recent start last month when racing off a mark of 129 and he now switches to fences for the first time so has to be considered. Any market support for Phil Kirby's Haka Dancer would be of interest but more solid claims are probably held by Novikov, who was useful over hurdles and has run creditably in two recent outings over the larger obstacles.
Stagecoach Pearl 8-11fav (10-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, challenged 6th, led next, clear from 3 out, sauntered home, won at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul beating Knight Legend (11-5) by 4l, 7 ran.
Novikov 7-2 (11-3) Led to after 1st, pressed leader, led again, 8th, jumped left next, ridden and headed after 3 out, stayed on same pace from next, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 12l behind Quell The Storm (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m nov chs (4) gd.
Border Fox 40-1 (10-5) Pulled hard, led 1st, clear after next, jumped right 4th and next, headed 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Letham Island (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gf in Jun, 8 ran.
Canal Bank (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Jumped right, in rear, lost touch 9th, tailed off, last of 5, well behind The Jigsaw Man (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd.
Haka Dancer (USA) 8-1 (10-5) Tended to jumped right, led and raced freely, headed 7th, mistake next, weakened 3 out, 3rd of 5, 19l behind What's Up Doc (10-12) at Southwell 2m nov chs (4) gd in Jul.
Pure Faith (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakening when hampered 2 out, 10th of 17, 36l behind Australia Day (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) gd in Jul.
