tracked leaders, led 10th, jumped right and hit next, headed 14th, led again next, ridden approaching 2 out, clear last, stayed on well
jumped slowly 3rd, soon ridden along and last, not fluent 7th, behind 12th, tailed off when pulled up after 13th
tracked leaders, not always fluent, went 3rd when mistake 11th, hit 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
jumped right, led, not fluent 9th, not fluent and headed next, led 14th, headed next, stayed on same pace from 2 out, no impression on winner last
ridden along most of way, jumped right 1st, mostly chased leader until 10th, weakened from 13th, tailed off
Atherstone Hill won twice at Towcester last season but reappears off a 22lb higher mark than when only second over C&D just under a year ago. There are no fitness doubts surrounding Orion Star, who has been in action over the summer and hasn't finished out of the frame in his last eight starts. He's probably high enough in the weights now, however, and finished behind El Diego at Wincanton last time, though is better off at the weights today. Timpo went close on several occasions last season but remains a maiden over fences and, though he'll strip fitter for his comeback run at Ludlow he has to give 22lb to OVERTON LAD. Winner of this in 2009 and runner-up last year, Peter Pritchard's 10-year-old can get back to winning ways after finding veteran Marked Man too strong when favourite at Towcester last month.
Atherstone Hill (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, jumped badly right 1st, went 2nd approaching 12th, challenged 14th, led before 3 out, clear before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well, won at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Mar beating Lonesome Boatman (10-4) by 11l, 8 ran.
Orion Star (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, led 4th until 10th, led again 15th, ridden and headed 3 out, stayed on same pace in 3rd, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Mr Demister (10-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gf in Oct.
El Diego (IRE) 9-4fav (11-6) Held up in touch in 5th, closer order 8th, went 2nd briefly 14th until slow next, lost place and blundered 16th, rallied next, led narrowly 3 out, pressed soon after, joined last, driven and stayed on flat, headed close home, 2nd of 6, nk behind Mr Demister (10-5) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp 0-100 (5) gf in Oct.
Timpo (FR) 5-1 (11-5) In rear, not fluent 1st, hit 6th and 7th, not fluent 13th, behind 15th, mistake 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 9, 48l behind Foreign King (11-11) at Ludlow 3m am hcp chs 0-100 (5) gf in Oct.
Overton Lad 10-3fav (10-10) Led until 2nd, led after 10th until next, mistake 11th, soon ridden, led again before 2 out, soon headed and not fluent at fence, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Marked Man (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) fm in Oct.
