raced wide, chased leaders, slipped going into 2nd, led 3 out, pressed and went left next, edged left and headed just before last, 3rd and one pace flat
raced wide, chased leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, rallied and hit 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last, just held on, all out
chased leaders on inside, weakening when pecked 3 out, tailed off
made most until ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened soon after, tailed off
chased leaders, driven along before 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, switched right before last, chased winner last, strong challenge flat, just failed
always behind, tailed off
held up, good headway approaching 3 out, chased leader 3 out, ridden before next, weakened approaching last
held up and behind, pushed along before 6th, headway approaching 4 out, driven and stayed on under pressure flat, never nearer
chased leaders, pushed along after 5th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, led before 3 out, headed 3 out, soon lost 2nd, went 2nd again before 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
Thunder Sheikh was quite highly tried in his first season and it would be no surprise to see him do better now he's had his sights lowered. Chaser Benbane Head wouldn't be without a chance on this stiff course while Phare Isle beat Rhum in a novice chase here in May, though is worse off at the weights now. SAIL AND RETURN has been raised 10lb since winning at Uttoxeter three weeks ago but he looks to be right back to his best and should take all the beating here with useful claimer Thomas Garner taking off 7lb. The consistent Be My Light looks the pick of the remainder with Destroyer Deployed weighted to the hilt for his return.
Destroyer Deployed 7-1 (11-1) Mid-division, badly hampered and lost place 3rd, not fluent 5th, headway 7th, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 13, 50l behind Benheir (11-6) at Bangor 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Benbane Head (USA) 14-1 (10-7) Mistakes in rear, effort into mid-division, when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Romanesco (10-5) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct, 14 ran.
Phare Isle (IRE) 8-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, weakened before approaching next, 6th of 9, 36l behind Iona Days (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Rhum (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders ridden before 14th, went 3rd before 2 out, one pace and always held, 3rd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Phare Isle (10-5) at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (4) gf in May.
Tell Me Y (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Mid-division, ridden from 6th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 11, well behind Amron Lad (11-5) at Bangor 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Sail And Return 11-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, challenged 2 out, led and hit last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft in Oct beating All For Cash (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Thunder Sheik (IRE) 12-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, ridden after 5th, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 10, well behind Lexi's Boy (10-11) at Ascot 2m 4yo hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Be My Light (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 8th, ridden 3 out, no extra flat, 3rd of 12, 12l behind What An Oscar (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in Oct.
Cleeve Cloud (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden after 5th, not fluent 6th, soon lost place, stayed on flat, no impression, 5th of 10, 30l behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Earcomesthedream (IRE) 14-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, weakened 3 out, 4th of 13, 27l behind Mexican Bob (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
