held up, headway 6 out, chased winner from 11th, ridden and every chance approaching last, ran on to have every chance close home, no extra
in rear, headway 9th, ridden next, weakened 12th
held up rear, steady headway 12th, ridden to chase leader 2 out, very tired when jumped right last
tracked leaders, weakened 13th
tracked leaders, not jump well, behind from 4th, pulled up before 7th
made all, ridden 3 out, challenged approaching last, all out virtually stopped close home, ran on again when challenged, just held on
prominent, lost touch before 11th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch, lost place after 6th, slow jump and pulled up soon after 8th
Bay Island gets the call here ahead of Runaway Bishop. Bay Island confirmed the stable confidence in his ability by beating the well-regarded Lord Anner last time and he can go well in his bid to follow up. Runaway Bishop also comes here on the back of a win over course and distance. Given that he loves it here, he can go well although a seven-pound penalty will not make life easy. Gola Supreme is well weighted based on his hurdling win here but has not been so good over fences. That said, he could make the frame. Dun Locha Castle can't quite get his head in front from his revised mark, while Ballybrophy, who is thrown in on his January 2004 form, seems to have regressed. Much as he is back to a course-winning mark, Never Awol has failed to complete in six races since that win of a year ago, while Maybeseven, winner of this race last year from a seven-pounds higher mark, has something to prove on more recent efforts. With Jumpty Dumpty being hard to fancy, we return to the selection, which is Bay Island.
Bay Island (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Held up towards rear, headway 13th, led 3 out, edged left and headed last, rallied to lead close home, won at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Oct beating Lord Anner (10-13) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Runaway Bishop (USA) 7-2fav (10-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, challenged leader 2 out, switched right and led close home, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Oct beating Blitzy Boy (10-13) by 3l, 13 ran.
Gola Supreme (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, headway after 8th, joined leaders 10th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 11, well behind Billy Ballbreaker (10-7) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-95 (F) hvy in May.
Dun Locha Castle (IRE) 11-2 (10-0) Led until 2nd, chased leaders, mistake 11th, lost touch from 13th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Tom Sayers (10-13) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Ballybrophy (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Chased leader, until blundered and lost place 5th, weakened 10th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Robber (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Never Awol (IRE) 16-1 (10-9) Led until ran out at the 13th in race won by Ashgreen (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gf in Oct, 10 ran.
Maybeseven 22-1 (9-7) In touch, lost place after 4th, soon in rear and pulled up at the 14th in race won by Hehasalife (10-4) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf in Oct, 7 ran.
Jumpty Dumpty (FR) 33-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway after 13th, close up when mistake 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 22l behind Bay Island (10-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs in Oct.
