chased leaders, hampered 3rd, reminder 6th, pushed along 9th, behind from 4 out
chased leaders, mistake and lost place 3rd, behind when blundered 5th, soon lost touch, pulled up after 9th
with leader, left in lead 3rd, went right and headed 4 out, lost 2nd before next, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway and in touch 6th, went 2nd 11th, led 4 out, ridden after 2 out, held on under pressure flat
mid-division, hampered 3rd, mistake and reminder 8th, ridden to chase leaders after 4 out, went 2nd approaching last, kept on, held flat
tracked leaders, left 2nd at 3rd, blundered and lost place 11th, chased winner before 3 out until approaching last, 4th and weakened flat
led narrowly until fell 3rd
mid-division, reminder 5th, struggling 11th, ridden 4 out, plugged on from next, never on terms
behind, blundered 5th, pushed along 8th, chased leaders under pressure after 4 out, stayed on to take 3rd approaching last, held flat
held up in rear, reminder 6th, weakened and pulled up before 12th
Schinken Otto disappointed on his seasonal reappearance though Malcolm Jefferson's 11-year-old shouldn't be totally dismissed as he has shown his best form on this going in the past. GUNNER ROSE and Ginger's Lad fought out the finish to this race last year, and though he has gone up in the weight since, we take Michael Scudamore's charge to confirm places. It's of some concern that he is reappearing from an absence but he did post a subsequent victory over C&D off a 1lb lower mark. Oscar Royal is on a recovery mission having lost his way. The form of Everdon Brook's victory at Worcester hasn't worked out whilst Middlebrook should be watched in the market as his trainer saddled a winner on the Flat last weekend.
Schinken Otto (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Behind, struggling 8th, lost touch 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Shan Blue (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Oscar Royal (IRE) 18-1 (11-1) Tracked leader, lost place before 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up after 3 out, in a race won by Persian Gates (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep, 9 ran.
Free Speech 17-2 (11-12) Led, edged left approaching 10th, headed after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off, 7th of 9, 49l behind Kap West (10-3) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Gunner Rose 9-4 (11-12) Held up tracking leaders, mistake 8th, driven and weakened 15th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Oncle Kid (11-7) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Nov, 5 ran.
Ginger's Lad 6-1 (10-6) Held up in touch, lost place after 9th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Ballybough Gorta (10-1) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 13 ran.
Prideus (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Led until 3rd, not fluent 4th or 5th, blundered badly 8th and lost place, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by La Pantera Rosa (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in May, 11 ran.
Middlebrook (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, not fluent 8th, jumped left 4 out, under pressure when jumped left 2 out, faded before last, 3rd of 15, 11l behind Sheepclose (10-1) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gd.
Everdon Brook (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Held up in last pair, not fluent and reminder 5th, ridden to chase leaders when baulked 4 out, never able to challenge, weakened 2 out, 8th of 9, 36l behind Stafford Charlie (9-11) at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Mad Professor (IRE) 17-2 (9-11) Always in rear, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by The Grey One (10-3) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jun, 12 ran.
Shindig 40-1 (10-5) Held up in rear, headway approaching 8th, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Ballybough Gorta (10-3) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
