chased leader, challenged and bumped 4 out, upsides and bumped again next, soon led and came clear, easily
held up, stumbled 7th, blundered next, headway to 3rd before 2 out, stayed on same pace
often jumped left, led, joined 3 out, soon headed, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
took keen hold in touch, blundered 9th, struggling 4 out
raced wide, chased leaders in 3rd, went badly left 7th, lost 3rd at 10th, soon behind, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders 7th, went 3rd at 10th, challenged and slightly hampered 4 out, weakened before 2 out, blundered last
took keen hold, held up, not fluent 2nd, slow 4th, headway to 4th after 4 out, weakened after next, eased, tailed off
This won't take much winning and it may be worth giving another chance to French import SAMENERVE, who has plenty of experience over fences and was probably a little too keen when pulled up on his UK debut at Exeter. Topaze Collonges was second at Fontwell before falling at Plumpton but Kirkhammerton is usually worth opposing and Apache Dawn hasn't managed a single victory in 48 tries over hurdles and fences. The remaining trio also appear to have little going for them.
Samenerve (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Led, blundered and headed 13th, reminders before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Bennys Mist (11-5) at Exeter 3m Beginners Chase (0-110) (4yo+) (4) hvy in Oct, 6 ran.
Top Benefit (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) With leaders, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 10, 48l behind Boomtown (9-10) at Stratford 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft.
Topaze Collonges (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Tracking leader when fell 5th, in a race won by Truckers Benefit (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Oct, 10 ran.
Kirkhammerton (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Behind, headway 2 out, never dangerous, 6th of 12, 20l behind Heezagrey (9-11) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Aug.
Middlebrook (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 2 out, 8th of 16, 31l behind Gud Day (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Sep.
Dr Anubis (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) Held up, headway 6th, weakened after 4 out, 4th of 7, 25l behind Daneva (10-12) at Hereford 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gs.
Apache Dawn 9-2 (9-12) Prominent early, held up in touch, hit 4th, stumbled next, ridden 7th, went 3rd after 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Daneva (10-12) at Hereford 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gs.