led until 2nd, chased leader until 4th (water), reminder next, weakened before 3 out
raced wide, mistake 1st, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders until lost place before 5th, behind next, tailed off 7th
led 2nd, ridden and headed after 2 out, chased leader until weakened run-in
held up in rear, closer tracking leaders when jumped left and bumped 6th, pushed along before 3 out, hit next, outpaced between last 2, switched left and plugged on run-in
raced keenly, tracked leaders, went 2nd 4th, led after 2 out, 2 lengths ahead when hit last, headed and weakened towards finish
started slowly, behind, closer tracking leaders on inside when bumped 6th, chased leaders 2 out, ridden before the last, went 2nd run-in, driven ahead towards finish
Champion Chase has finished second five times over fences but is now 0-17. Brother Bennett seems to reserve his best for Plumpton while Strictlyadancer made mistakes and finished last on his debut over the larger obstacles here 12 days ago, though is surely capable of better. HURRICANE RITA has a big weight but she is much improved over fences and scored here in June. She need only reproduce her latest run at Southwell to take this.
Hurricane Rita (FR) 8-1 (11-11) Led, joined when pecked 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, kept on run-in, always just held, 2nd of 6, 1/2l behind Joly Maker (11-6) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) sft in Oct.
Strictlyadancer (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Behind, not fluent 1st, hit 7th, tailed off 3 out, last of 6, dist behind Maire Banrigh (12-6) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Full Shift (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Towards rear, struggling from 10th, 7th of 10, 22 1/4l behind Tudors Treasure (11-9) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Champion Chase (FR) 4-1 (11-4) Tracked leader, led 4th, headed before 5 out, led again 3 out, headed approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Brother Bennett (10-4) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Brother Bennett (FR) 10-11fav (11-0) Held up in 4th place, closer in 3rd at 7th, 2nd briefly 4 out, one pace in 3rd before 2 out, went 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 16l behind No No Cardinal (10-7) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Golander (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Led from 1st, mistake 3 out, soon headed and weakened, pulled up before last, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (5) gs in Aug.
St Merryn (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) In rear, not always fluent, closed 7th, lost place before 4 out, went remote 4th flat, 4th of 9, 24 1/2l behind Double Court (11-7) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Aug.