chased leader, not fluent 2nd, fell 9th
led, reminder after 14th, headed 16th, weakened after 17th, mistake next, tailed off
held up in rear, hampered 9th, headway 11th, went 2nd 13th until 15th, challenged 16th until before 2 out, lost 2nd last, weakened flat
jumped slowly 1st, soon in rear, mistake 8th, hampered next, behind from 16th, tailed off
not fluent, in rear, reminder after 12th, went modest 4th 18th, well behind 4 out, pulled up after 3 out
chased leaders, hampered and left chasing leader 9th, lost 2nd 13th until 15th, ridden in 3rd next next, outpaced after 17th, rallied 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat
in touch, led 16th, ridden approaching 2 out, 4 lenghts ahead last, held on gamely
NOTABOTHERONME has the right profile for this race and is preferred to Kildonnan and Jaunty Journey. The last three renewals have been won by relatively progressive staying chasers and the selection has relatively few miles on the clock after thirteen chase starts. He has saved his best for Chepstow thus far but wasn't disgraced on his previous visit to the track, returned to form in first time cheekpieces last time and remains feasibly handicapped on his best form. Jaunty Journey has struggled in valuable races the last twice but started his first full season over fences in promising fashion and could well bounce back with the yard in better form now. Naunton Brook hasn't won since 2007 but is handicapped accordingly and is ideally served by this sort of test whilst Petite Margot is a tough mare who has gone well fresh in the past. Laveonak Lad is a dour stayer but he may not jump well enough to win at this track whilst Antonius Caesar is entering new territory with regard to the trip. Kildonnan makes some appeal as he has plenty of track form and very few miles on the clock for one of his age but the tentative suggestion is Notabotheronme.
Jaunty Journey 10-1 (11-12) Led to 2nd, led before next until ridden and headed before 4 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up after, in a race won by Boris The Blade (10-4) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Jan, 9 ran.
Naunton Brook 16-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 11th, well behind after 16th, tailed off, 7th of 15, well behind Russian Trigger (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) sft in Mar.
Antonius Caesar (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway and in touch 12th, led 15th, ridden and headed after 2 out, no extra, 3rd of 10, 10l behind I'moncloudnine (11-10) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Petite Margot 33-1 (11-10) Held up, mistake 8th, pushed along after 12th, soon tailed off and pulled up before last, in a race won by Master Overseer (10-13) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
Kildonnan 9-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, headway when hampered 12th, left 2nd 3 out, led approaching last, stayed on to draw clear flat, won at Towcester 2m 6f beg chase (4) sft beating Hinton Thunderbolt (11-0) by 6l, 8 ran.
Notabotheronme (IRE) 2-1fav (11-3) Disputed lead, left in lead 6th, headed after 4 out, ridden to lead again between last 2, left 4 lengths clear last, edged right, kept on flat, won at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Jan beating Power Pack Jack (10-3) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Lavenoak Lad 9-1 (11-0) Always in rear, ridden and struggling after 9th, tailed off, 5th of 9, 27l behind Wizard of Edge (10-4) at Taunton 3m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) sft in Jan.
