set strong pace, blundered and headed 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in rear, blundered 1st, ridden and no chance before 8th
chased clear leading pair, jumped right 4th, weakened 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
took keen hold, held up in mid-division in main group, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd after 3 out, 8 lengths down 2 out, closed going well between last 2, challenging on bit when fell last
in touch in main group, lost place 4th, mistake 7th, stayed on to take moderate 6th approaching last, kept on to take 3rd towards finish
held up in rear, jumped left 7th, soon no chance, mistake 3 out
not fluent, remained handy in main group, behind from 4th, tailed off 7th
chased clear leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, mistake 1st, steady headway from 6th, ridden after 4 out, struggling when mistake 3 out
held up in rear, behind from 5th, tailed off 7th
chased clear leaders, went 2nd approaching 4 out, led 3 out, 8 lengths clear 2 out, ridden and joined when left well clear last
chased leaders, lost place 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
not jumped well, in rear until fell 4th
chased leader and clear of remainder, lost 2nd approaching 4 out, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
handy in main group, outpaced by leading pair from 2 out, left moderate 2nd last
mid-division in main group, behind from 7th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before last
mid-division in main group, headway approaching 4 out, ridden 3 out, moderate 4th when blundered 2 out, left 3rd last, lost that place towards finish
Nonrunner
Armaturk is becoming expensive to follow but there is no getting away from his class in this sort of line up and he again gets the vote ahead of Andy Anshan and Bob Justice. Of slight concern for favourite backers here will be both the ground and the length of time since Armaturk last won a race, but his form has regularly been way above what should be required to win this race, and this trip is more to his liking than last time, when he was still travelling well when tipping up. With a clear round it is hard to envisage him being beaten. If his colours are to be lowered then Andy Anshan may be the one to do it. Howard Johnson's charge has not raced under rules on anything other than good ground, so he too has to prove his worth on this quicker surface. He drops back in trip also, so he does have a couple of points to prove especially after a sound beating last time. Bob Justice is another who has not been tried on good to firm ground, but he was good enough to receive a rating of 130 over hurdles and that means that we have to take him seriously here. He certainly acts on a sound surface and the trip won't be a problem, so he is respected. Fast ground definitely does suit Silver Dollars, who was an easy winner against weaker opposition at Folkestone last time, Man From Highworth has a bit to prove after being hammered last time, while De Luain Gorm looks better than Star Double of those that remain. Even so, if class counts for anything then Armaturk should take this.
De Luain Gorm (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Made all, soon clear, hit 4 out, kept on gamely, comfortably, won at Cheltenham 2m hts chs (4) gd beating Reflector (11-4) by 11l, 15 ran.
Andy Anshan (IRE) 5-2 (12-2) Held up, badly hampered 4th, headway 9th, blundered 12th, one pace, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Minouchka (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hts chs (5) gd.
Silver Dollars (FR) 3-1 (11-11) Made all, drew well clear after 3 out, easily, won at Folkestone 2m 5f hts chs (6) gf beating Took My Eye (11-9) by 21l, 11 ran.
Armaturk (FR) 9-2 (12-0) Held up behind, good headway approaching 11th, close 4th when pecked and unseated rider 4 out in race won by Seafield Bogie (10-0) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp hts chs (4) gf, 9 ran.
Bob Justice (IRE) 3-1 (12-7) Led to 3; 2nd to 12; rallied & blun 2 out; nt qckn aft, 4th of 8, 10l behind Star Double (12-7) at Fakenham 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Chockdee (FR) 33-1 (11-9) Towards rear, weakened 8th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Iron Maid (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf in Sept, 10 ran.
I'm Dreaming (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Led to 10; t.o & pulled up in race won by Lord Alfred (12-0) at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gf, 11 ran.
Light Des Mulottes (FR) 4-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway 6th, not fluent 10th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 14, 39l behind Red Man (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd.
Man From Highworth 7-4fav (11-7) Held up, tracking leaders going well from 12th, 2nd briefly, hit 3 out, shaken up, one pace 2 out, soon beaten, edged right between last two, 4th of 5, 19l behind Back Nine (12-0) at Towcester 3m hts chs (3) gf.
Per Amore (IRE) 80-1 (11-3) Reluctant to race, towards rear, ridden approaching 12th, soon well behind, 8th of 14, 50l behind Ede'iff (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd.
Reflector (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up, headway 9th, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, kept on, no impression on winner, 2nd of 15, 11l behind De Luain Gorm (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hts chs (4) gd.
Star Double (ITY) 8-1 (12-7) Made all; held on game, won at Fakenham 3m ptp gd in Apr beating Caveman (12-7) by 5l, 8 ran.
Theme Park 20-1 (12-0) Prom til wknd qckly 14; t.o & pulled up in race won by Red Alf (12-0) at Ashorne 3m ptp sft, 12 ran.
Valjean (IRE) 100-1 (11-3) Chased leader to 3rd, in touch, lost place 7th, rallied 13th, one pace from approaching 4 out, 3rd of 14, 17l behind Ede'iff (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd.
Young Tot (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Tendency to jump left early, led 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 14, 5l behind Ede'iff (11-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd.
Lile Na Casca (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden after 4 out, one pace from next, 7th of 15, 22l behind De Luain Gorm (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hts chs (4) gd.
Super Kay (IRE) 1-2fav (11-7) A.p; lft in ld aft 4 out; hdd & wknd rap 2 out, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Glory Trail (12-0) at Penshurst 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Deep King (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) Led until 11th, weakening when hit 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Seafield Bogie (10-0) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp hts chs (4) gf.
