held up in touch, reminders halfway, soon under pressure, pulled up before 7th
held up in touch, headway halfway, chased winner 2 out, no extra last, lost 2nd flat
tracked leader, blundered 4th, led 6th, headed after 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leader, blundered 4th, led 6th, headed after 4 out, soon outpaced, stayed on to go 2nd after last, no chance with winner
tracked leader, led approaching 3 out, drew clear approaching last, ran on well
held up in rear, never jumped well, weakened 3 out
Apache Brave won a poor handicap here when last at the track nearly a year ago and is 8lb higher on his return. Blue Hills has a penalty for his recent victory in a novices' handicap and will find this tougher, though Ballybanks could figure on his recent second at Newcastle. Break The Chain has gone off the boil recently so the vote goes to FRANKS A MILLION, who has yet to match his hurdling form over fences but ran well for a long way at Wetherby three weeks ago and should be up to winning in this company.
Break The Chain 12-1 (11-3) Held up behind on outside, headway 10th, ridden and outpaced in 5th before 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 29l behind Corkage (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Jan.
Molko Jack (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Held up, headway 8th, went 3rd after 4 out, no impression, demoted to 4th flat, 4th of 8, 13l behind Newton Tonic (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs.
Sonic Anthem (USA) 66-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, mistakes 6th and 7th, weakened next, no chance when fell 2 out, in a race won by Unforgettable (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs 0-115 (4) gs, 7 ran.
Ballybanks (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Soon led, 10 lengthes clear after 8th, mistake 5th, pushed along 4 out, headed next, faded approaching last, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Sambelucky (10-9) at Newcastle 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Blue Hills 14-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, went close 2nd after 7th, led approaching 4 out, ridden and in command before last, stayed on well (no time taken), won at Plumpton 2m 1f 5yo nov hcp (4) gd beating Sawago (11-6) by 5l, 6 ran.
Apache Brave (IRE) 13-2 (10-1) In touch headway to chase leaders 7th, went 2nd on inside 10th, led 2 out, in command last, driven clear flat, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Apr '11 beating Wee Ziggy (10-12) by 5l, 7 ran.
Franks A Million (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, blundered next, 3rd of 4, 25l behind Global Flyer (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
