led until after 6th, led 8th, ridden and went left before 2 out, headed after 2 out, one pace flat
tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th until approaching 3 out, soon weakened
went right start, held up, hit 5th, closed 8th, went 2nd approaching 3 out, not clear run before next, led after 2 out, ridden out
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, ridden 7th, soon last, rallied from 2 out, went 2nd flat, not reach winner
tracked leader, took keen hold, led after 6th until 8th, weakened 10th, pulled up before 3 out
Ajzal is the obvious starting point here with Ed de Giles' seven-year-old chasing a hat-trick after wins at Huntingdon and Towcester. The top weight is now 9lb higher than when successful last time, however, and may be worth opposing with ZEPNOVE. The mare was a decent novice hurdler on fast ground a couple of years ago and second on her only previous start over the larger obstacles - she will have needed the outing here last week. Haoyunma suffered a heavy fall here seven days ago and it remains to be seen if that has affected her confidence.
Ajzal (IRE) 15-8 (11-12) Prominent, led 3rd, in command 2 out, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May beating Nesnaas (11-12) by 6l, 5 ran.
Nono Le Sage (FR) 20-1 (11-6) Led to before 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 10th of 11, well behind Miss Champagne (9-11) at Uttoxeter 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in May.
Pharaon de Touzaine (FR) 13-2 (10-12) Behind, never jumped well, pulled up 15th, in a race won by Ballygulleen (10-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Oct '09, 8 ran.
Zepnove (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, bumped 4th, soon ridden, weakened after next, 8th of 10, 30l behind Driving Miss Suzie (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m mrs hcp hdl (5) gd.
Haoyunma (IRE) 13-2 (9-11) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, fell 10th, in a race won by Sun Tzu (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) gd, 7 ran.