made all, ridden after 2 out, stayed on well
tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out, switched right before next, no impression on winner last, stayed on same pace
held up in last pair, took keen hold, not fluent 11th, pushed along after next, effort 4 out, 4th next, no impression, one pace 2 out
held up in last pair, not fluent 9th, headway 11th, close 3 out 3 out, stayed on same pace before last
tracked winner until 4 out, lost place next, weakened 2 out
Nonrunner
Skylander was given a confident ride by Tom Scudamore to beat Brother Scott at Hexham and Michael Heard's claim takes care of the extra 7lb, though this looks a much tougher contest. Junction Fourteen kept very good company over hurdles last season but his stable is still to hit form. Sean Bowen is the only jockey to have got a win out of She's Late so far and is reunited with the five-year-old here, though Richard Johnson could have presumably have ridden the bottom weight and instead partners Simply The West. The latter only found Vieux Lion Rouge too good at Towcester in May. DELGANY DEMON will have to jump better than he did when third here in the spring but will have had plenty of schooling over the summer. He's always looked like a chaser in the making so is given another chance, though the mare Ebony Empress was no mug over hurdles and could be a danger if taking to the bigger obstacles.
Junction Fourteen (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Tracked clear leader, close up behind leaders 5th, lost place after 2 out, weakened before last, 15th of 23, 28 1/2l behind Call The Cops (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Mar.
Skylander (IRE) 6-4fav (11-8) Towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, led last, kept on well, won at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Brother Scott (10-3) by 7l, 6 ran.
Simply The West (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Tracking leading trio, stumbled 3rd, rider dropped whip, tracked leading pair 8th, going well 3 out, 2nd before 2 out, upsides 2 out, led briefly between last 2, no extra last, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Vieux Lion Rouge (10-12) at Towcester 2m 6f (4) gs in May.
Ebony Empress (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) In rear, mistake 4th, headway 3 out, kept on to take 2nd place run-in, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Minnie Milan (10-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
She's Late 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, one pace 3 out, no extra when not fluent next, last of 4, 22 3/4l behind Hunt Ball (11-12) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gf in Sep.
Delgany Demon 10-1 (10-12) In touch, lost place 5th, closed before 8th, jumped left and outpaced 4 out, weakened next, jumped left and not fluent last, 3rd of 7, 23l behind Dell' Arca (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) gd in May.
