in rear and jumped badly right throughout, detached from 5, unseated rider last
tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened before next
led, ridden and headed before last, regained lead flat, kept on gamely under pressure, held on near finish
tracked leader, ridden to lead before last, headed flat, kept on and held towards finish
Nonrunner
NINE STORIES goes well fresh having won over hurdles on his reappearance last season and defied a four-month absence to make a winning start over fences in March. He looked a useful prospect when completing a hat-trick at Perth in April and can defy a big weight on his handicap debut. Diamond Frontier looked on the way back when a good second to King's Grey at Newcastle though connections won't be happy with a 6lb rise. However, he wasn't beaten far by Riguez Dancer over the C&D a year ago and is much better off at the weights. Shadrack fell on his chasing debut before a very easy success at Huntingdon. He was out of his depth at Haydock last time but this is more his level and he looks a threat. Cool Operator is out of form but has dropped to a fair mark as a consequence.
Nine Stories (IRE) 5-4fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd after 4 out, not fluent 2 out, switched left flat, soon led, stayed on well, won at Perth 2m chs (3) gd in Apr beating Wikaala (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Riguez Dancer 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, mistake 6th (water), blundered and unseated rider 8th, in a race won by Chance Du Roy (11-4) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Nov, 14 ran.
Diamond Frontier (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Made all, clear from 6 out, ridden after last, headed when no extra last 50 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Kings Grey (11-7) at Newcastle 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Shadrack (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd when hit 3rd, challenged after next, led 7th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, left 3rd when beaten 3 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 5, 26l behind Nadiya De La Vega (11-0) at Haydock 2m grad ch (2) gd in Nov.
Cool Operator 16-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 7, 15l behind Best Lover (11-12) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Nov.