jumped and hung left, led, clear 2nd, mistake 4th, reduced lead 9th, headed after next, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway 8th, left 2nd 2 out, soon led, clear before last, easily
held up in rear on outside, jumped right and not fluent 1st, headway 4th, challenged after 10th, led when not fluent 2 out, soon headed, no impression on winner before last
held up behind leaders, mistake and lost place 2nd, last next, mistake 6th, well behind 10th, pulled up after
held up towards rear, some headway before 4th, mistake 6th, outpaced 10th, went modest 3rd after 2 out
chased leaders, lost place and reminder 9th, well beaten from 3 out
chased leader, led after 10th, headed when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
Steel Wave is in the veteran stage now but has placed twice in this grade this year and was second at Kempton 11 days ago. SHELDON only won once over hurdles but is an interesting newcomer to chasing having had a pipe-opener with fellow chasing debutant Heltenham having a first run since March. Furkash has fallen in two of his four races so far over fences but Templehills won off a 5lb higher mark here just over a year ago so can’t be ignored.
Templehills (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Jumped left at times, tracked leader until 2 out, rallied to go 2nd again flat, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Shetland Bus (11-6) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Sheldon (IRE) 5-2fav (11-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, led last, driven and headed final 100 yards, weakened towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Guernesey (12-0) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Heltenham (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Prominent, led after 3rd, headed before next, led 6th, edged left after 2 out, hung left and headed last, held towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1 1/4l behind Beau Haze (10-11) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Versatility 6-1 (11-5) Led until 3rd, mostly chased winner until after 10th, soon dropped to rear, rallied into modest 3rd after the last, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Somekindofstar (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Steel Wave (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, pushed along and outpaced home turn, plugged on from 2 out, kept on well from last, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Minella Buster (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Punches Cross (IRE) 15-2 (11-6) Held up in touch on outside, jumped slightly right at times, not fluent 6th, outpaced from next, well beaten from 3 out, last of 4, 23 1/2l behind Tikkinthebox (12-1) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Furkash (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Led narrowly, headed before 4th, close up when not fluent 5th, awkward 4 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 5th of 6, 27 1/4l behind Midnight Ginger (11-12) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
