held up in touch, led after 4 out, soon clear
led 3rd, headed after 4 out, no chance with winner
held up in rear, reminders after 8th, soon struggling
held up, pushed along after 7th, soon reminders, soon struggling
led to 3rd, pushed along approaching 7th, quickly weakened, pulled up before next
chased leader, one pace from 4 out
chased leaders, weakened 7th, tailed off 9th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, weakened from 3 out
William Butler should take all the beating here and is preferred to Lace Your Boots and Karo De Vindecy. There is a chance that the selection's recent exertions will take their toll on him but he's a different horse since joining his current connections and has won his last three starts in exemplary fashion. He only has a double penalty here due to a canny bit of placing by his trainer who is keen to strike while the iron is hot and he can go in again. Lace Your Boots showed plenty of promise on debut for this yard in May and it may well be that the first time visor brings about further improvement. McCoy rides for the first time and his chance is respected. Karo De Vindecy comes here on the back of a decent effort at Sedgefield and is on a fair enough mark but he is thoroughly exposed and vulnerable to an improver. The rejuvenated William Butler rather surprisingly fits that bill at present and gets the vote.
William Butler (IRE) 6-5fav (10-8) Always going well, led and jumped left last, soon quickened clear, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd beating Pan The Man (11-11) by 11l, 11 ran.
Najca De Thaix (FR) 14-1 (11-12) In touch, losing place when not fluent 4th, soon behind, last of 9, 49l behind Fantastic Arts (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Lace Your Boots (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Always prominent, not fluent 11th, challenging when pecked 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 12, 6l behind Wenger (11-4) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Mistified (IRE) 15-2 (10-7) Held up, headway 13th, ridden after 3 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Withington (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chs (4) gf in Jun.
Loriko d'Airy (FR) 100-1 (10-7) Towards rear, ridden 7th, one pace, 7th of 16, 21l behind Harbour Breeze (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Nov.
Reasonably Sure (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 11th, one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 16, 14l behind Outside Investor (10-6) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
Rash Moment (FR) 8-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division and raced wide, headway after 9th, weakened 4 out and refused 3 out in race won by Even Flo (10-6) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in May, 14 ran.
Karo de Vindecy (FR) 8-1 (10-2) With leader, led 3rd, headed 10th, chased winner, rallied and every chance flat, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 7, 4l behind No Complaint (11-12) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun.
