chased leaders, stumbled 1st, blundered and lost place next, not fluent and last 6th, no impression after, weakened 4 out
held up, went 4th 2nd, ridden and weakened after 8th, pulled up 2 out
led, jumped left 2nd, pecked badly 4th, soon headed, struggling 7th, rallied approaching 3 out, every chance last, no exta close home
prominent, blundered 2nd, led approaching 4 out, pressed last, stayed on under pressure and in command towards finish
prominent, led after 4th, headed approaching 4 out, weakened next
held up, not fluent 1st, headway 5th, close 3rd last, one pace and no impression flat
Last year's winner MALLUSK normally runs well fresh so it was disappointing to see him drop away tamely on his reappearance at Hereford, where he was eventually pulled up. Those exertions obviously didn't take much out of him, however, as he's turned out again quickly here so is probably worth another chance. French import Great's Autrechene and Ours were also pulled up last time, while Star Galaxy is having his first start since April but improving Newbury winner Back Bob Back should make a bold bid to defy top weight. Arctic Ben appears to have plenty to find however.
Back Bob Back (IRE) 11-8fav (11-2) Prominent, led approaching 6th where not fluent, clear last, eased close home, won at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft beating The Boss (11-3) by 7l, 6 ran.
Great's Autrechene (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from the 8th, pushed along after 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Valley View (11-1) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy, 11 ran.
Mallusk (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden and hit 11th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Rigadin De Beauchene (10-5) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft, 11 ran.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway 4 out, ridden 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 11, 43l behind Quincy Des Pictons (10-9) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Ours (FR) 15-2 (10-5) Soon towards rear, slow 5th and 7th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Nosecond Chance (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov, 9 ran.
Star Galaxy (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and lost place when outpaced after 4 out, left a well held 3rd 3 out, weakened before last, 4th of 6, 27l behind Thunder Child (10-12) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) fm in Apr.
