chased leader, closed before 8th, lost 2nd 10th, about 3 lengths 3rd when ran out last
mid-division on outside, headway 5th, went 2nd when jumped right 10th, lost place 4 out, pulled up before next
mid-division, dropped to last 7th, headway before next, one pace 3 out, no extra from 2 out
mid-division, headway 5th, mistake 8th, hampered 10th, led 3 out, jumped left 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat
held up, stayed on from 2 out, left 3rd last, never in contention
held up in rear, headway before 10th, went 2nd 2 out, led last, stayed on well
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, bumped 6th, headway when bumped 8th, struggling 10th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place 5th, jumped right next, struggling from 9th, pulled up before 10th
led, soon clear, not fluent 6th, reduced lead 9th, headed 3 out, blundered next, no extra
Withdrawn
A switch to fences has brought about the expected improvement in ex-pointer WADDINGTOWN HERO (NAP), who won easily at Ffos Las after finishing a close-up third at Huntingdon. He's 9lb higher here but has the scope to defy the extra. Definitely Better, on the other hand, hasn't taken to the larger obstacles so far while Molko Jack is still 3lb higher than last successful at Hexham a year ago. Fellow veterans Noble Witness, Rebel High and Phoenix Des Mottes are also hard to fancy and none of the others look good enough.
Noble Witness (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place 6th, soon behind, lost touch when pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Royalracket (10-2) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Definitely Better (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Led until after 4th, chased winner, led again 7th until 9th, pushed along when blundered and lost 2nd 2 out, weakened before the last, 4th of 5, 14l behind Chance Encounter (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Molko Jack (FR) 9-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 17l behind Civil Unrest (11-7) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Waddingtown Hero (IRE) 3-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, driven clear approaching last, ran on strongly, won at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr beating Vujiyama (11-12) by 7l, 7 ran.
Gran Torino (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, went poor 4th over 2f out, no impression (all three hurdles in straight were omitted), 4th of 7, 26l behind Masterofdeception (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Jun.
Mr Robinson (FR) 8-1 (10-0) Towards rear, struggling 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Jim Job Jones (9-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp 0-100 (5) gd in Sep, 10 ran.
Rebel High (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, reminders after 7th, soon lost place and behind, no danger after, 6th of 7, well behind The Informant (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Phoenix Des Mottes (FR) 66-1 (9-9) With leader, led 3rd to 5th, tracked leaders, lost place 8th, behind from 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, 40l behind Gin Cobbler (10-2) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Dougalstar (FR) 9-2 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway 6th, mistake next, not fluent and lost place 9th, behind from 13th, mistake 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 8, well behind Cosway Spirit (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Mar.
Khazium (IRE) 11-1 (10-7) Refused to race and took no part, in a race won by Chance Encounter (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr, 5 ran.