took keen hold, held up in rear, not fluent 2nd or 4th, ridden approaching 6th, soon no chance, mistake 3 out, tailed off
chased leader to 5th, weakened after next, tailed off
raced keenly, always prominent, 2nd 5th, led, going well approaching 2 out, soon clear
led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, weakening in 3rd when mistake 2 out
in touch, not fluent 5th, soon driven, outpaced next, stayed on to take 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, mistake last
took keen hold, soon in touch, weakened approaching 5th, tailed off before pulled up before 2 out
held up, swerved left and unseated rider 3rd
held up, lost touch approaching 6th, never on terms
mid-division, headway after 5th, outpaced after next, plugged on approaching 2 out
took keen hold, mid-division, headway approaching 5th, beaten when not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
Darfen is the tentative choice to take the finale with The Arsonist and A Perfect Gent two others that could take a hand. The selection was well held on his first two starts in bumpers but posted an improved effort to finish second at Ludlow. He raced a shade keenly and unseated his rider at the fourth on his hurdling bow but the run wasn't devoid of promise and he may fare better here. The Arsonist has shown a similar level of form in four bumpers and did manage to reach the frame in the last of them. The form is nothing to get excited about but is good enough to put him in the picture on his hurdling bow. Similar remarks apply to A Perfect Gent who has shown a modicum of ability and he may be able to transfer that to jumping obstacles. It's always worth keeping an eye on the market in races like this but Darfen would appear to have been found a reasonable opportunity to get off the mark.
A Perfect Gent (IRE) 14-1 (11-3) Took keen hold in rear, headway over 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 12, 20l behind Bob Run (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn nhf (6) gf in Jun.
Arctic Emperor (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Prom til lost plce 12; pulled up in race won by Bethebestyoucanbe (12-0) at Upcott Cross 3m ptp gd in May, 10 ran.
Darfen (IRE) 15-2 (10-7) Took keen hold, mid-division, headway when unseated rider 5 out in race won by Red Admiral (11-0) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun, 15 ran.
How Realee (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Always behind, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Leo's Lucky Star (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun.
The Arsonist (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Took keen hold, held up, headway over 4f out, ridden 3f out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Maderson Blue (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn nhf (6) gf in Jun.
Vamonos Gothenberg gelding out of African Jewel.
Super Seasons (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Mid-division, ran green 10f out, behind after, 9th of 11, 42l behind Maderson Blue (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn nhf (6) gf in Jun.
Hirijan 100-1 (10-7) Always behind, 6th of 9, well behind Saltrash (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gs.
Lansdowne Princess 14-1 (10-9) In touch until 10th, soon behind and pulled up 4 out in race won by Los Suenos (10-7) at N Abbot 2m 5f chs (5) gf in Jun, 13 ran.
Never Red (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, hit 5th, soon ridden and behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Herons well (11-0) at N Abbot 2m 3f nh mdn hdl (4) gf in May, 10 ran.
