prominent, mistake 2nd, slow 5th, led before 11th, not fluent 4 out, headed 2 out, no extra flat
held up towards rear, headway 12th, mistake 4 out, challenging when hampered last, led flat, stayed on well
mid-division, headway when mistake 4th, challenged 7th, lost place 11th, behind 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, mistake 1st, ridden 9th, weakened after 10th, pulled up before 11th
held up in rear, headway 12th, no extra 2 out
held up in rear, headway 12th, shaken up before 2 out, no extra flat
held up in mid-division, closed 3rd, went 2nd 12th, led 2 out, jumped right and hampered rival last, headed flat, no impression after
chased leaders, lost place before 6th, closed 10th, not fluent 4 out, soon beaten
led, jumped right 6th, headed 8th, lost place 11th, pulled up after
chased leaders, went 2nd 5th, led 8th, not fluent 10th, headed before 11th, lost place from 13th, tailed off
Several of these are returning from a break and having a first run over fences but the likes of Haas Boy, Notnowlinda, Are U Wise To That and Kadex could all do well over the larger obstacles. Romanor has won six times in chases but has become frustrating to follow. Blaze A Trail has found one too good the last twice but Glajou won as he liked at Worcester less than two weeks ago. GOLD LINK has only run five times over fences but has already achieved a level of consistency and won’t be far away again here as he is best going left-handed.
Gold Link (FR) 11-8 (11-10) Held up, headway going well home turn, upsides and every chance last, not match pace of winner, kept on, 2nd of 4, 3/4l behind Latino Fling (11-7) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Are U Wise To That (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Held up in mid-division, prominent after 4 out, driven along and no response approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 15, 13 1/2l behind Santos Blue (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Haas Boy (FR) 12-1 (12-1) Held up in mid-division, headway out wide chasing leaders and hit 8th, hung left and weakened before 2 out, 6th of 12, 37 1/2l behind Ballycamus (11-6) at Newbury 3m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Stans The Man (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Chased leaders, pushed along to lead before 2 out, edged left and awkward when headed last, kept on flat, 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Bumpy Johnson (12-0) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Romanor 9-2 (10-2) Raced in last, went third after 7th, outpaced approaching 2 out, ridden and stayed on strongly after last, just denied, 2nd of 4, shd behind Kauto The King (10-2) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Glajou (FR) 10-3fav (11-8) Kept wide, held up towards rear, closed from 7th, led 4 out, clear from next, easily, won at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Sep beating Iron Heart (11-9) by 12l, 7 ran.
Notnowlinda (IRE) 6-1 (11-6) Raced wide, towards rear, headway 2 out, ridden and stayed on run in, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Autumn Return (11-8) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Feuille De Lune (FR) 13-8 (11-10) Led after 1st, jumped left 3rd, headed after 4th, jumped well 8th and led, headed after 12th, soon ridden along and lost touch with leading pair, weakened, last of 4, 28 1/2l behind Sainte Doctor (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Blaze A Trail (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Led, mistake 9th, not fluent 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, plugged on in distant 2nd, 2nd of 5, 21l behind Chess Player (11-9) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Kadex (FR) 8-1 (11-8) Towards rear, not jump fluently, pulled up after 8th, at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gs in Apr.
