led, reminder after 1st, not fluent 9th, headed narrowly approaching 4 out, mistake 3 out, soon beaten, one pace
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 7th and 9th, mistake 10th (water), broke leg and pulled up
prominent, went 2nd 8th, led narrowly approaching 4 out, headed 3 out, beaten after 2 out
in rear, mistake 11th, tailed off 13th, pulled up before 4 out
prominent, lost place 10th, rallied 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
pulled hard, held up, jumped slowly 6th, losing touch when mistake 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 11th, led 3 out, clear approaching last, easily
raced and jumped with little zest, in rear, progress before 4 out, hampered 2 out, soon beaten
pressed leader to 8th, weaking when jumped right 2 out
mid-division, raced keenly, not fluent 3rd, headway 10th, ridden after 13th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
A decent prize for this beginners' chase where PACHA D'OUDAIRIES looks the most likely winner, while Mistanoora and Cannon Fire can chase him home. The Paul Nicholls-trained selection has been a little frustrating to follow of late, having finished runner-up in four of his last five starts. On that basis, he is not one to be lumping on tonight. However, the form of his last two starts looks good in context and if he can reproduce it he will be tough to beat as a genuine stayer who goes on the ground. Mistanoora was unable to get competitive before falling last time and has been given a break since. He stays well enough and has had enough ability to make a big impact here if he is ready after that absence. Cannon Fire appears to go on any ground and on his best hurdling form he looks well enough treated here to get closely involved, though like the selection he was a beaten favourite last time out. Warsaw Pact blundered away his chance at the last at Worcester and may be better than that, though the issue with him looks likely to be stamina. Little else appeals and Pacha D'Oudairies gets the vote.
Cannon Fire (FR) 11-10fav (11-0) In touch, lost place 12th, blundered next, soon well behind, 3rd of 5, well behind Black Anshan (11-0) at Southwell 3m 2f beg chase (4) gd in May.
Mistanoora 5-2 (11-7) Held up, fell 3rd, in a race won by Methodical (10-4) at Hereford 3m 1f clm chs (3) gs in Dec, 7 ran.
Pacha D'Oudairies (FR) 10-11fav (10-11) Sometimes jumped right, prominent, went 2nd 4th, led 8th, hit 14th, hung left from after 2 out, headed approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Shannon Springs (10-11) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gs.
Shergill (IRE) 28-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, driven 8th, weakened after next, 10th of 13, 43l behind Bob 'n' You (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Spiritwind (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Led until after 1st, remained prominent, hit 4th, ridden after 8th, soon weakened, 5th of 6, 42l behind Horseford Hill (11-2) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Stormy Chance (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Behind, blundered badly 5th, detached before 7th, behind when pulled up before 11th, in a race won by No Panic (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chase (4) gf, 9 ran.
Surenaga (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division, no impression from 4 out, 10th of 20, 37l behind What's New (10-12) at Tipperary 2m 4f hcp hdl sft.
Warsaw Pact (IRE) 9-4fav (10-12) Jumped erratically, held up, headway 10th, not keen approaching 2 out, rallied and close 3rd when blundered last, not ran on flat, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Silmi (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nov stks (4) gf.
Bathwick Lucy (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, outpaced when mistake 3 out, rallied next, went 3rd, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 5l behind Converti (10-7) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (5) gf.
Cresswell Ruby (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Disputed lead to 7th, weakened 4 out, 13th of 15, well behind Quattrocento (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd.
