held up, mistake 12th, outpaced from 14th, rallied after 3 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
took keen hold, tracked leaders until fell 6th
held up, hampered 6th, mistake 13th, headway 14th, led just after 3 out, easily
prominent, reminders approaching 11th, weakened 14th, tailed off when jumped right 2 out
with leader, ridden approaching 4 out, 4th and weakening when hit 3 out
led, ridden when blundered 3 out, soon headed weakened last
held up, headway 6th, hit 13th, hung left approaching 3 out, weakened last
held up, in touch, struggling from 14th
Nonrunner
Longueville Manor can make up for lost time over fences, with Ad Murum, Presenting Alf, More Trouble and Reasonably Sure all out to foil him. Jonjo O 'Neill has been patient with Longueville Manor since the gelding's fall on his only previous start over fences, at Newton Abbot last year, campaigning him over hurdles. The six-year-old has suddenly found his form with a vengeance, rattling up a hat-trick, the last in very easy fashion at Worcester off a mark of 125. He returns to the bigger obstacles on a rating of just 97, so is absolutely thrown in, and you can bet that he has been well schooled. He should give the champion another winning ride, with Ad Murum the one to give him most to do. Gary Moore's eight-year-old has won round here before, and will appreciate the step up in trip based on his one-paced fourth over shorter at Market Rasen last time. Presenting Alf has had a little break since finding one too good at Worcester, and his stable is not in the best of form just now, while More Trouble is best watched along with Reasonably Sure, although excuses can be made for the latter's latest effort at Huntingdon as his rider lost an iron when battling for a place. All in all, this looks best left to Longueville Manor.
Classic Clover 20-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, weakened 9th, behind from 11th, 8th of 14, 24l behind Back In Business (11-10) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Sparklinspirit 9-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Zonic Boom (10-11) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd in Nov.
Longueville Manor (FR) 2-5fav (11-12) Held up in last, headway after 9th, led on bit 2 out, very easily, won at Worcester 3m nov hdl (4) gs in May beating Devon Blue (10-4) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
More Trouble (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Held up mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, soon one pace, 4th of 8, 7l behind Ricardo's Chance (10-13) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Ad Murum (IRE) 8-1 (11-6) Held up, chased leaders after 6th, reminders and outpaced 8th, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 13, 5l behind Friendly Request (9-12) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Reasonably Sure (IRE) 5-2fav (11-1) Held up, ridden 3 out, headway next, rider lost irons and weakened last, 4th of 6, 8l behind Grouse Moor (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in May.
Presenting Alf (IRE) 15-8fav (10-7) In rear, jumped right 1st, headway after 11th, chased winner and jumped right from 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 13, 14l behind Fieldsofclover (11-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
Cloudland (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Led until after 2nd, led 7th until 10th, led again next, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 10, 10l behind Norton Sapphire (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f nov chs (4) gf in May.
