chased winner, pushed along approaching 14th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, hung left approaching last, stayed on same pace
always last, not fluent 11th, struggling when mistake 16th, soon tailed off
made all, went right and hit 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well
Nonrunner
There's little to choose between this field on official ratings but Joyryder is one that could improve for this stamina test and gets the nod from Freddies Return and Noble Action. The selection made a satisfactory chase debut here over 2 miles 5 last month but lacked the pace to get competitive. His course form is a big plus as the fences down the back straight take some jumping and the better ground should also be in his favour as his best run over hurdles came when the going was good. Freddies Return has yet to jump a fence in public but has twice run well here over hurdles and is bred for the game; his trainer has a decent record here. There's a suspicion that this trip will test the stamina of Commemoration Day to the limit but Supreme Cara has won a hurdle race here over just a furlong shorter and has run well on both chase starts. Noble Action failed to run his race last time but he retains a good deal of ability as he showed when beating Gone To Lunch over hurdles in May. He's looked a little vulnerable over fences so far though and Joyryder can steal this prize.
Commemoration Day (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 12th, ridden to lead 3 out, headed last, weakened flat, 3rd of 11, 5l behind Comber (10-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
General Zhang (IRE) 9-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, lost place 8th, behind when mistake 5 out and next, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 33l behind Mrs O'Malley (10-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f mdn chs (5) sft.
Joyryder 5-2fav (11-10) Led, headed 6th, led again 12th, headed 4 out, chased winner from 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Jolejoker (11-0) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy in Jan.
Freddies Return (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 7th, effort approaching 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 15, 21l behind Go Amwell (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Dec.
Noble Action 4-1 (11-1) Always towards rear, hit 2nd, ridden and pecked 14th, left third 17th, jumped badly left 3 out and pulled up 2 out in race won by Nykel (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Dec, 12 ran.
Supreme Cara 40-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 4th, soon tracking winner, not fluent 6th, lost place next, 6th of 9, 12l behind Labelthou (11-5) at Ascot 3m hdl Grd 2 (1) sft in Jan.
