tracked leaders, hampered 15th, led soon after, strongly challenged approaching 2 out, stayed on well
held up in rear but in touch, slow 12th, headway 4 out, ridden to challenge after next, every chance 2 out, no extra flat
held up in rear but in touch, slow 5th, chased leaders halfway, mistake 14th, soon lost place, behind when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, led approaching 5th, headed next, ridden 14th, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, took closer order 16th, under pressure after 4 out, soon weakened, modest 3rd
held up in rear, jumped right 2nd, ridden from halfway, behind when pulled up soon after 4 out
led, headed approaching 5th, led again next, blundered 15th, soon headed, rallied before 3 out, soon weakened
Course and distance winner High Ron may do better back at this track while Riddlestown keeps finding a bit more and should be thereabouts despite a further 8lb rise after landing a double at Towcester. Long Wave is yet another to consider on the back of a victory at Huntingdon and Knockraheen is not completely dismissed off his current mark. But this looks slightly easier than ROCKY BENDER's latest task at Wincanton and where he finished runner-up to Water Wagtail and he gets a tentative vote to go one better in an open contest.
High Ron 16-1 (11-0) Prominent, mistake 1st, ridden 13th, lost place 15th, mistake 17th, well beaten after, plugged on flat, 6th of 10, 22l behind Loughalder (10-12) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Riddlestown (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, in rear 7th, not fluent 8th, headway approaching 3 out, challenging when bumped 2 out, soon led, edged left flat, driven out, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd beating Russe Blanc (11-7) by 1l, 12 ran.
Knockraheen (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway approaching 11th, not fluent 4 out, ridden after 3 out, close up when hit 2 out, bumped when one pace after last, 5th of 9, 9l behind Miss Saffron (10-3) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Rocky Bender (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Led, clear from 13th, blundered 15th, mistake 17th, headed last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Water Wagtail (10-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Long Wave (IRE) 15-8fav (11-7) Close up, led before 11th, pushed along before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar beating Faith Keeper (11-7) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Swingbridge (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, dropped to last next, closed when jumped slowly 11th, mistake 4 out, no impression before next, plugged on flat, 3rd of 7, 17l behind Smart Catch (11-1) at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Rocky Island (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Led until 4th, prominent, not fluent 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Ben Cee Pee M (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd, 15 ran.
