chased leader, led 3rd, headed approaching 3 out, weakened after next
held up towards rear, behind after 11th, blundered 13th, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up, not fluent 5th, soon pushed along, reminders after 8th, pushed along again after 11th, struggling from 4 out
led to 3rd, chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, hard driven to lead flat, just held on
held up, went third from 6th, pushed along after 12th, ridden after 2 out, one pace from last
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, not fluent 5th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed flat, rallied and just held towards finish
held up, weakened approaching 14th
held up in touch, weakened approaching 14th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Intense Suspense has been in winning form in point-to-points of late and carried on winning ways when successful on his return to rules racing at Perth earlier this month so Mick Easterby's gelding has solid claims off a 7lb higher mark today but he had to work hard to win that race and preference is for CHOUMAKEUR with the best of the rest rated as Orchard House. Evan Williams has his team in fair form right now and the six-year-old has to be respected but he is becoming expensive to follow and was disappointing at Hereford last month so may be best watched. River Ripples was pulled up on his belated reappearance earlier this month but cannot be discounted with Tom George having his string in fine form at present. Rapid Return ran no sort of race over hurdles at Worcester last month but had won well enough at the same venue the previous month and he could be of interest over fences for the first time in this country. Pipers Legend has been running consistently well but is probably a shade high in the weights and a safer option looks to be Choumakeur. David Pipe's gelding has won his last three starts, all this month, in good fashion and the seven-year-old looks more than capable of defying his latest 7lb penalty to record a fourth successive victory.
Choumakeur (FR) 8-11fav (11-6) Held up, headway after 6th, chased leader 4 out, soon pushed along, led flat, driven out, won at Worcester 3m am hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft beating Old Brigade (11-7) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
Pipers Legend 22-1 (10-7) Held up, improved 10th, beaten when not fluent 3 out, 3rd of 5, 33l behind Rodrigo Gonzales (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nov stks (4) gd.
Pagan Sword 28-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 4th, mistake next, soon outpaced, plugged on approaching last, 4th of 12, 12l behind Northern Quest (11-4) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
River Ripples (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, ridden after 10th, no chance 14th, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Arctic Shadow (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 13 ran.
Orchard House (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Mid-division, ridden after 11th, never in contention, 8th of 16, 44l behind Marked Man (11-4) at Hereford 3m 1f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Jackie Boy (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Prominent, mistake 6th, blundered 11th, mistake next, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Arctic Shadow (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd, 13 ran.
Working Late 12-1 (10-10) In touch when blundered and unseated rider 9th, in a race won by Pure Magic (10-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd, 12 ran.
Avoine (IRE) 9-1 (9-9) Prominent, pushed along after 7th, ridden 9th, weakened, went 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 13, 18l behind Ring For Time (11-2) at Stratford 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun.
Bathwick Lucy (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Close up, hit 1st, mid-division when blundered 10th, pulled up next, in a race won by Well Mick (10-6) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (4) sft, 12 ran.
Rapid Return (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden in rear 6th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Bathwick Man (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jun, 14 ran.
Intense Suspense (IRE) 2-1fav (10-2) Made all, hit 3 out, challenged approaching 2 out, stayed on gamely flat, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf beating One Black Cat (11-9) by 3/4l, 18 ran.
Marado (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) In touch, hampered 8th, soon behind, pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Native City (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun, 13 ran.
