held up, losing touch when mistake 6th, well behind from next, tailed off
held up, headway approaching 7th, chased winner approaching 2 out, soon hung left, not keen, no impression from last
tracked leading pair, hampered, rider lost iron briefly 2nd, led 5th, headed 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
led, jumped left 2nd, headed 5th, soon driven along, weakened 8th
in touch, progress to go prominent 6th, led 8th, hit 2 out, driven out
with leader, reminders after 5th, ridden along after 6th, weakened next, tailed off
held up, headway approaching 6th, ridden after 8th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, behind, headway 7th, weakened, hung left after 8th
Countback is selected here ahead of Mad Professor and Chandlers Cross. Countback is a dual course winner and, even though he is a pound worse off for the near-length that he finished behind Mad Professor at Carlisle last time - the latter seeming to show improved form there - he was given a lot to do that day and could well reverse the form today over what is a new trip for him. Also, Mad Professor is not fully proven on soft going. Oeil d'Estruval has shown that he can make places from today's mark and that he acts on soft and he cannot be ruled out of a good run. Aristi, who ran well from an 11-pounds higher mark in a seller here in May, has not built on that since, hence his dropping mark, while Chandlers Cross showed improvement at Market Rasen last time and could improve again for today's longer trip. Finally, Coy Lad won a novices' handicap chase from a five-pounds higher mark in April 2006 but has not been able to build on that since. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Countback.
Countback (FR) 11-4fav (11-11) Held up in rear, ridden last and good headway, stayed on strongly flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 10, 1/2l behind Mad Professor (11-7) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd.
Chandlers Cross (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway 3 out, challenged next, ridden and every chance last, no extra flat, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Scutch Mill (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Mad Professor (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Led to 1st, remained close up, led 3 out, kept on well, won at Cartmel 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd beating Devils Delight (11-0) by a nk, 10 ran.
Aristi (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Held up mid-division, ridden 5th, soon behind, 7th of 11, 26l behind Tarkesar (12-1) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl (5) gs.
Oeil d'Estruval (FR) 9-2 (10-11) Led until 1st, prominent, led 5th, ridden, headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out, 7th of 15, 30l behind Intersky Music (10-7) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in May.
Coy Lad (IRE) 22-1 (10-8) Mid-division, jumped slowly 6th, soon pushed along, struggling after 8th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Or Sing About (11-12) at Hereford 3m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Jun, 13 ran.
Golden Snoopy (IRE) 40-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden and weakened from 4 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Troys Run (10-10) at Hexham 3m mdn hdl (5) gs in May, 14 ran.
Anglerzar (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Towards rear, never dangerous, 10th of 13, well behind Quarry Island (10-12) at Hexham 2m mrs nov hdl (4) sft in Jun.