chased leader 2nd until approaching 6th, jumped slowly next, 2nd again 11th until before 13th, weakened 4 out
chased leader to 2nd, 2nd again approaching 6th until 11th, weakened approaching 4 out
led, ridden after 13th, headed approaching 2 out, beaten after 2 out, weakening when not fluent last
soon pushed along, last and ridden 5th, losing touch from 12th, plugged on under pressure to go moderate 3rd last
held up behind leaders, challenged 13th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, in command approaching last, eased near finish
Nonrunner
Quarry Town showed some respectable form over hurdles and it will interesting to see how David Pipe's gelding performs on his chasing debut but he faces a stiff task first time over the larger obstacles and preference is for Piran, who is taken to make the most of the weight that he receives from Nikola. The last mentioned is a capable performer but the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained gelding faces no easy task giving weight away all round having disappointed in a handicap here last time. Peter Bowen's Contact Dancer has taken a long time to open his account over fences but finally came good when successful at Kelso last month before again finding one too good at Hexham last time. He may again have to settle for minor honours. Flashy Sir is capable but needs to improve on all known form to trouble the judge and a better bet may be Piran. Evan Williams has found it hard to win races with the six-year-old over fences but his form is solid and he looks worth chancing receiving weight from Nikola.
Nikola (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 10th, weakened 2 out, 9 lengths 6th when fell 3 out in race won by Down The Stretch (10-2) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in May, 15 ran.
Contact Dancer (IRE) 5-2 (11-5) Led to 7th, tracked leader, led again 3 out to next, soon ridden, one pace from last, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Ouzbeck (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nov chs (4) gf.
Piran (IRE) 2-9fav (11-5) Tracked leader, left in lead 7th, mistake 3 out, hit next, soon headed, kept on, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Dad's Army (10-12) at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (4) gf in May.
Desert Tommy 66-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, soon ridden, lost place 4th, no chance from 8th, 6th of 12, 42l behind Ricardo's Chance (11-4) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Quarry Town (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Held up, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out, no chance when pulled up 3 out in race won by Asian Royale (11-1) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Apr, 7 ran.
Flashy Sir 14-1 (11-9) Held up, headway approaching 10th, ridden to dispute 3rd after 13th, one pace from next, 5th of 9, 9l behind Marblehead (11-3) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hts chs (5) gd in Apr.
Somewin (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 8th, stayed on past beaten horses from 2 out, 7th of 16, 25l behind Red Jester (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May.
