held up, headway approaching 4 out, chased winner approaching 2 out, ridden when hit last, not quicken
tracked leaders, left close 4th, led 9th, driven out
held up, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 9th, 4 lengths 4th when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
ran out, took keen hold, led 2nd, hampered and ran out 4th
took keen hold in rear, not fluent 4th, headway on inside 9th, weakened approaching 2 out
took keen hold, mid-division headway 4th, weakening when blundering 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, left in lead 4th, headed 9th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, just over 2 lengths down in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider last
led, not fluent 1st headed 2nd pulled up before 4th
Nonrunner
Double Mead rates the one to beat but we're going to take her on with Lord Alfred. The selection failed to make much of an impression in eleven starts for Mouse Morris but he has joined a shrewd operator who is capable of getting the best out of him. He starts his handicapping career on a fair mark, has been in winning form between the flags and looks worth chancing. Double Mead's penalty is offset in part by her rider's claim and she won very easily at Fontwell last time. This is a marked step up in trip and, although she should stay, this isn't straightforward under her big weight. Patxaran makes his chase debut on an interesting mark having run out a ready winner of a selling hurdle last time and is one to monitor for support but his lack of chasing experience means that we pass him over. Sam Cruise is well worth a second look, Burn Brook has won her last two starts in points but it's not easy to make a case for many in this heat so we're content to side with Lord Alfred.
Double Mead 5-2 (11-12) Jumped well, always prominent, led 7th, in command from 3 out, comfortably, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd beating Mystical Star (10-5) by 11l, 6 ran.
Lord Alfred (IRE) 5-2jt-fav (12-0) Led 10; r.o wl, won at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gf in May beating Initiate (12-0) by 12l, 11 ran.
Patxaran (IRE) 13-2 (10-5) Made all, driven 2 out, 6 lengths clear last, comfortably, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f sll hdl (5) sft beating Coronado's Gold (10-12) by 9l, 13 ran.
Silent Man (IRE) 16-1 (11-11) Behind when unseated rider at the 2nd in race won by September Moon (11-12) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May, 10 ran.
Deputy Mayor (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Towards rear, ridden 8th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Doris's Gift (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 7f hcp hdl (4) gf in May, 14 ran.
Sam Cruise 9-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, effort 4 out, weakened 5th, behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Lethem Present (9-11) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs (5) gf in May, 18 ran.
Burn Brook 6-1 (11-7) Lft 2nd 4; led 15; drew clr 2 out, won at Garthorpe 3m ptp gd in May beating Return Fire (12-0) by 30l, 4 ran.
Rich Nomad 3-1 (9-11) Held up when unseated rider in race won by Red Granite (10-8) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Ardfry (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Led the 1st, tracked leader, led again 6th before next, left 2nd briefly, soon outpaced, weakened from 2 out, 4th of 7, well behind Stand On Me (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in May.
Somewin (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 8th, stayed on past beaten horses from 2 out, 7th of 16, 25l behind Red Jester (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May.
