held up in rear, slow 1st and next, blundered 9th, headway to 4th before 11th, tracked leader 2 out, weakened before last, lost modest 3rd towards finish
chased leading trio, not fluent 4th, ridden before 11th, weakened before 3 out
chased leader, every chance when blundered 3 out, lost 2nd next, rallied to modest 3rd towards finish
last pair, not fluent and dropped rear 4th, never going after, mistake and ridden 8th, driven and struggling after next, tailed off
led, joined 2 out, kept narrow advantage under presssure, hung left and headed before last, hung left and stayed on same pace flat
held up in 5th, headway to 3rd 9th, 3rd 2 out, led before last, stayed on well flat
chased leaing pair until 9th, rear from 11th, tailed off
Life Of A Luso would almost certainly have completed the hat-trick had he not fallen at the last here last month. Paul Henderson's charge has been put up a further 7lb, however, which could make him vulnerable in this better grade. The handicapper may also have got to Health Is Wealth, who wouldn't have finished in front of VIABLE over a slightly shorter trip here last month had the latter not blundered and unseated Gina Andrews after jumping the final fence. Pam Sly's gelding is well handicapped at present and looks to be coming back to form so gets the vote here, though War Party is proving a model of consistency and wouldn't be far away if fully recovered from a tough race behind Sunday City at Aintree. Storm Of Applause, Knight Legend and Gaelic Flight have all won their fair share of races but lack the scope of some of their rivals.
War Party 8-1 (10-7) Held up, badly hampered 1st, headway 5th, went 2nd after 2 out, led before last, ridden and headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 9, nk behind Sunday City (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Storm of Applause (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, hit 11th, held from 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 38l behind Qulinton (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Knight Legend (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, effort 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 9, 16l behind Red Not Blue (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
Viable 16-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led next, ridden and headed after 2 out, disputing 2nd and held when unseated rider last, in a race won by Marley Roca (10-8) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May, 8 ran.
Health Is Wealth (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, lost place 6th, went 4th 2 out, left modest 3rd last, no chance when hung left flat, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Marley Roca (10-8) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Life Of A Luso (IRE) 15-8 (11-9) Not always fluent, tracked leading pair, disputed 2nd from 9th, led and not fluent 4 out, about 5 lengths ahead and looked likely winner when fell last, in a race won by Spock (11-12) at Stratford 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May, 4 ran.
Gaelic Flight (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Prominent on inside, chased leading pair after 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, 3rd of 12, 11l behind Takeroc (11-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hts chs (5) gd in May.
