pressed leader, led 6th, made rest, driven 3 out (usual 4 out), 6 lengths clear 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden and hard pressed approaching bypassed last, held on towards finish
tracked leaders, driven 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden and went 2nd before last (usual 2 out), stayed on to press winner approaching bypassed last, held towards finish
led to 6th, with winner, not fluent 9th, outpaced after 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden and no impression when lost place approaching last (usual 2 out), lost modest 3rd near finish
mid-division, reminder after 8th, weakened 4 out (usual 5 out), tailed off
behind, reminder and struggling from 6th, lost touch 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out (usual 4 out)
tracked leaders, effort 3 out (usual 4 out), soon ridden and no impression, stayed on to take modest 3rd near finish, no chance with front pair
mid-division, driven to chase leaders 4 out (usual 5 out), weakened next, pulled up before 2 out (usual 3 out)
in rear, blundered 5th, driven to chase leaders 3 out (usual 4 out), soon ridden, weakened next, tailed off
mid-division, lost touch 10th, tailed off
Nonrunner
BEST BOY BARNEY still has something to learn about jumping fences but never looked like being caught when getting off the mark at Taunton last time and has the beating of Qualypso D'Allier on that run. He's gone up 13lb in the weights but Matt Griffiths' claim will help him out a little and he looks to have more scope than today's rivals. Noble Witness is well treated on past form and the 11-year-old went close over a shorter trip here two weeks ago. He seems sure to be in the firing-line again but Pure Anticipation is returning from a break and none of the others make much appeal.
Best Boy Barney (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Made all, drew clear before 3 out, stayed on well, unchallenged, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr beating Milosam (11-12) by 12l, 11 ran.
Noble Witness (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Led, driven after 4 out, went right 2 out, edged left before headed last, stayed on, just held, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind River Purple (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.
Pure Anticipation (IRE) 14-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, blundered 1st, went 2nd 12th until after 14th, no extra 4 out (normal 3 out), 8th of 12, 46l behind Watch House (10-10) at Worcester 2m 7f cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gd in Sep.
Rocky Island (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Led, clear 13th until hit next, headed 4 out, blundered 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 33l behind Market Option (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Nicene Creed 16-1 (11-7) Led and disputed until 6th, chased leader, pushed along annd weakened after 8th, soon lost touch and pulled up, in a race won by Possibly Flora (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) hvy in Apr, 5 ran.
Qualypso D'allier (FR) 10-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, mistake 9th, closed 15th, every chance 4 out, stayed on same pace from 3 out, blundered 2 out, 3rd of 11, 6l behind Cypress Grove (10-0) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.
Bit Of A Clown (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 14th until pushed along before 4 out, weakened next, poor 6th when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Flugzeug (9-11) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Apr, 8 ran.
Chicago Alley 25-1 (10-4) In touch, blundered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Grand Article (10-0) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Killfinnan Castle (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders and keen, led 2nd, headed 5th, blundered 3 out, weakened after last, 5th of 9, 5l behind Lough Coi (11-7) at Towcester 3m cond hcp chs (5) gs.
Solway Sam 14-1 (10-13) In rear, headway 4 out, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 16, 11l behind Shooting Times (10-7) at Perth 3m am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
