pressed leader, led 4th, mistake 2 out, pressed last, stayed on gamely
not fluent, always behind
held up in rear, ridden and struggling 7th, well behind next, soon pulled up
in touch in mid-division, closed 3rd, went 2nd before 5th, awkward 7th, lost 2nd after 3 out, well beaten 2 out
in touch in mid-division, closed on outside before 6th, outpaced approaching 4 out, well beaten after 3 out
led until hit 4th, mistake 7th, not fluent 3 out, no extra next
held up towards rear, headway 8th, went 2nd after 3 out, every chance last, ridden flat, no impression towards finish
chased leaders, hit 8th and outpaced, stayed on to take 3rd 2 out, no impression
Opening Bid was beaten a long way when third at Wincanton. It’s a long time since Turning Gold and One For Billy last ran over fences but both have been in fair form over hurdles. Elios D'Or is having a first run since July so, providing a recent comeback run at Chepstow hasn’t taken too much out of him, this might be a good opportunity for SHORTCROSS STORM to get back to winning ways, though Across The Channel is much respected having only made his chasing debut two weeks ago.
One For Billy 9-2 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, chased winner after 2 out, challenged last, driven flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Sayar (11-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Turning Gold 3-1 (11-9) Led, ridden and headed 3 out, plugged on thereafter, 3rd of 6, 15 1/4l behind Jet Of Magic (11-6) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Elios D'Or (FR) 11-4fav (11-4) Raced keenly, led until 3rd, chased leader until 4th, chased leaders, weakened after 2 out, last of 6, 25 1/4l behind Admiral's Sunset (10-0) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Calidad (IRE) 9-4 (11-6) Led, headed when mistake 2 out, soon weakened, last of 4, 36l behind Heartbreak Kid (11-11) at Sedgefield 2m hcp (4) gd in Jan.
Opening Bid 8-1 (11-4) Chased leader, ridden before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 3rd of 6, dist behind Red Happy (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Shortcross Storm (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Led, not fluent 4 out, pushed along and strongly pressed after 3 out, ridden after last and ran on gamely, headed over 110 yards out on run-in, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 3, 2l behind File Illico (11-12) at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Atlantic Storm (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Raced in mid-division, made headway before 3 out, ridden and outpaced at 2 out, weakened, 7th of 12, 28 3/4l behind Templier (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp (5) hvy in Dec.
Across The Channel (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Towards rear, not fluent 8th, headway to track leaders before 10th, ridden into 2nd 3 out, hit 2 out, bad mistake last, weakened run-in, 4th of 6, 11 3/4l behind Red Happy (12-2) at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
