held up, headway and mistake 10th, ridden after 4 out, no impression
held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, one pace
tracked leaders and mistakes, chased winner from 11th until after 4 out, quickly weakened
held up mid-division, soon pushed along, pulled up after 11th
led, headed approaching 10th, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, joined leader 7th, led approaching 10th, ridden clear approaching 3 out
soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
mid-division, soon pushed along and struggling
in touch, ridden after 4 out, in 3rd and one pace when saddle cloth fell off after 2 out
pushed along and behind from halfway
tracked leader, ridden halfway, soon weakened, pulled up after 4 out
always towards rear, mistake 10th, tailed off when pulled up after 4 out
towards rear, mistake 3rd, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
mid-division, headway to chase winner after 4 out, no chance with winner when mistake 2 out
in rear, early reminders, soon struggling, pulled up before 11th
Nonrunner
Mistral De La Cour was good value for his win at Sedgefield last month but a 10lb rise for that seems harsh and he may be best watched with preference for another last time out winner Vital Spark, who gets the vote over Eumene. The last mentioned was pulled up behind the selection last time but Chris Bealby's gelding is better than he showed that day and he cannot be discounted. David Barker's Jupiter's Fancy has been running consistently well in hunter chases of late and has to be considered in a handicap for the first time. Jonjo O'Neill's New Time lacks a recent run but the handler is more than capable of producing one after an absence so he has to be considered along with David Pipe's Vivid Imagination. The vote though goes to Malcolm Jefferson's Vital Spark, who won with any amount in hand at Market Rasen recently and he is taken to defy the hefty rise in the weights for that success.
Eumene (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up, behind when hampered 2 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Vital Spark (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun, 11 ran.
Wee William 7-2 (11-10) Mid-division, 6th and headway when blundered badly and lost place 4 out, not recover and pulled up at the 14th in race won by Read All About It (11-1) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Aug, 11 ran.
Vivid Imagination (IRE) 9-1 (9-8) Held up, headway after 5 out, ridden and weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, 21l behind Mcevoy (11-1) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Jan.
New Time (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-12) Never going well, chased leader, mistake 3rd, lost place 7th and dropped rear, behind when pulled up at the 9th in race won by Cash On Friday (10-12) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Nov, 6 ran.
Atura Gatti 25-1 (10-11) Always in rear, last of 12, well behind Haunted House (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Vital Spark 8-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, led after 4 out, clear from next, eased flat, comfortably, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun beating Public Esteem (10-6) by 10l, 11 ran.
Jupiter's Fancy 9-1 (11-5) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, headway under pressure 4 out, stayed on to go 2nd after last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 16l behind Proud Andees (11-12) at Cartmel 3m 2f hts chs (6) gs in May.
Roussea (IRE) 11-1 (10-8) Held up, not fluent 3rd, headway 8th, close 3rd when stumbled and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Kilcrea Asla (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
Cailin Go Maith (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Prominent, disputed lead from 3rd, headed before 6th, 3rd 5 out, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, soon no extra, 10th of 16, 35l behind Persian Return (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-102 frm in May.
Hercules Morse (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) In touch until 8th, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Classic Clover (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Mar, 12 ran.
Mistral De La Cour (FR) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, stayed on to lead flat, ridden out, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (5) gf in Jun beating Red Dawn (10-10) by 5l, 13 ran.
Irish Stream (USA) 9-1 (11-1) Held up, headway after 9th, mistake 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 30l behind Star of Germany (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gf in Jun.
Mr Ironman 6-1 (10-9) In rear, ridden 14th, no chance when hampered after 3 out, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Earcomesannie (9-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May, 15 ran.
Tipp Top (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Led to 3rd, lost place 7th, soon behind, 6th of 11, 43l behind Vital Spark (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Iowa (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Mid-division on inside, reminders 8th, soon lost place, behind from 3 out, 12th of 13, well behind Mistral De La Cour (10-11) at Sedgefield 2m 4f cnd hcp chs (5) gf in Jun.
Teenando (IRE) 11-1 (10-3) Chased leaders until mistake and unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by Kirby's Vic (10-13) at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 12 ran.
