in touch on inside, not fluent 16th, ridden after 17th, struggling when hampered, unseated rider 4 out
tracked leaders, raced keenly, pushed along approaching 16th, weakened 5 out, hampered 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent, close 3rd 5 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
mid-division, pushed along approaching 15th, headway before next, weakened after 5 out, mistake 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway under pressure approaching 4 out, soon weakened
held up, not fluent 13th, headway approaching 16th, led after 4 out, ridden clear last, stayed on well
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5 out, chased winner approaching 3 out, every chance 2 out, beaten approaching last
chased leaders, hit 12th, soon lost place, ridden after 15th, behind from next
chased leaders, badly hampered 4 out, went 3rd not on terms with front 2 approaching 2 out, stayed on one pace
prominent, led 15th, headed 5 out, still well there when fell 4 out
held up towards rear, stayed on from 4 out, edged left after 2 out, no real impression
took keen hold, in touch, hit 13th, led 5 out, headed after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
took keen hold in rear, reminder after 14th, mistake 5 out, headway 4 out, stayed from 2 out
took keen hold, led to 15th, weakened when mistake next, behind when pulled up before 5 out
dropped in behind, not fluent 10th, never on terms, blundered last
mid-division, chasing leaders by 8th, ridden after 15th, outpaced after 5 out, tried to rally after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
Fourty Acers is our selection in the feature with Snoopy Loopy and Chabrimal Minster but up as the alternatives. The selection has been cannily campaigned over hurdles by David Pipe in order to protect his handicap mark and while the trip is a slight worry, he acts on the ground. Snoopy Loopy has to give weight all around. A consistent sort, he gave a fair run at Perth under 11st 5lb but will be shouldering more weight again today. Chabrimal Minster is enjoying an Indian summer at present. He took a veterans chase in fine style at Cartmel. Take The Stand has won many friends during his hunter chase days. He will need to reverse "Horse and Hound" form with Harlov to win this. Royal Auclair was second in the 365 Gold Cup and is a regular in races of this nature. Rakalackey has been a perennial underachiever but he will have his ground this afternoon. Philson Run was fifth in the Scottish National. Surface The Air is probably better with give in the ground but he is progressing. Out The Black has been tried over three miles throughout his career and is worth a step up at this level. Mr Ed has each-way claims. Fourty Acers looks to have been laid out for this contest and we stick with him accordingly.
Snoopy Loopy (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, soon ridden, headed 2 out, kept on, one pace, 2nd of 18, 2l behind Brooklyn Brownie (10-6) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gf.
Royal Auclair (FR) 14-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, challenged 3 out, led briefly next, chased winner after, one pace flat, 2nd of 19, 2 1/2l behind Monkerhostin (10-13) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Ice Tea (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Keen, led 2nd until fell at the 4th in race won by Old Benny (11-7) at Cheltenham 4m nov amt chs (2) gs in Mar, 20 ran.
Always Waining (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, headway 3 out, led last, stayed on well towards finish, won at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd beating Charlie Crab (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Philson Run (IRE) 20-1 (10-0) Mid-divsion, not fluent 16th, chased leaders 5 out, mistake next, every chance 3 out, no extra approaching last, 5th of 24, 20l behind Iris De Balme (9-7) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Surface To Air 15-2 (11-7) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders from 11th, led after 14th, in command when left clear near finish, won at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in May beating Gallik Dawn (10-8) by 7l, 12 ran.
Out The Black (IRE) 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, ridden 4 out, no impression, 5th of 18, 17l behind Brooklyn Brownie (10-6) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gf.
Kock de La Vesvre (FR) 12-1 (10-13) Prominent, not fluent 11th, weakened after 12th, 5th of 11, 22l behind Gypsy George (10-11) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs (2) gs in May.
Fourty Acers (IRE) 4-5fav (11-5) Made all, driven and 3 lengths up when left well clear 2 out, won at Wetherby 3m nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Cute N You Know It (10-12) by a distance, 5 ran.
Chabrimal Minster 7-2fav (11-4) Always prominent, led 11th, made rest, driven and stayed on well from last, won at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in May beating Mr Ed (11-4) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Harlov (FR) 12-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway after 9th, ridden approaching 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, stayed on to lead last strides, won at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd in May beating Take The Stand (12-0) by a nk, 10 ran.
Take The Stand (IRE) 9-4 (12-0) Tendency to jump left, soon chasing leader, challenged 4 out, led after 2 out, hard ridden flat, headed last strides, 2nd of 10, nk behind Harlov (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd in May.
Rakalackey 8-1 (11-12) In touch, outpaced when hit 5 out and 3 out, weakened from next, 7th of 11, 38l behind Chabrimal Minster (11-4) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in May.
Dunbrody Millar (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, ridden along 5th, weakened approaching 4 out, 7th of 9, well behind The Babe Magnet (9-13) at Cartmel 3m 2f cnd hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Matt The Thrasher (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Hampered 1st, behind, stayed on after 3 out, nearest finish, 4th of 13, 12l behind Fieldsofclover (10-4) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf.
Mr Ed (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake and reminders 6th, headway to go 2nd 4 out, ridden and every chance after last, kept on same pace flat, no impression, 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Chabrimal Minster (11-4) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in May.
