prominent, chased leaders 7th, led 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, driven clear flat
in touch, ridden, lost place 8th, soon weakened
held up in touch, ridden 6th, kept on same pace from 3 out
held up last, headway on bit after 3 out, ridden to chased winner approaching 2 out, kept on, no chance with winner
held up mid-division, ridden, headway after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up in mid-division, ridden, headway to chase leader approaching 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
chased leader, led after 5th to 8th, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
led to 5th, chased leader until weakened 3 out
Almost Broke can defy an absence to score over Annie Fleetwood and Knightsbridge Bill. Almost Broke has been off the track since falling at The Chair during the Topham at Aintree in April, and returns to the fray fully 33lb lower in the ratings over timber. He did tend to make the odd mistake over fences, but will no doubt be aimed at some of the better chases once fit enough. This outing will help on that score, and we are prepared to side with him to bounce back with a win under conditions that suit, and on a track where his trainer does so well. Annie Fleetwood is a past course-and-distance winner and is race-fit, but looks high enough in the weights, while Knightsbridge Bill stayed on at Warwick last time and is now tried over a longer trip. Nothing else makes much appeal, and for the winner we return to the well-handicapped Almost Broke.
Portland Bill (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Prominent, ridden 3 out, kept on, 3rd of 15, 15l behind The Luder (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Annie Fleetwood 9-1 (10-11) Tracked leader, led 2nd, headed and slightly outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again to go 3rd flat, 3rd of 16, 8l behind Beau Michel (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Knightsbridge Hill (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, reminder and lost place approaching 4th, rallied 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 16, 5l behind Scarlet Mix (10-12) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Almost Broke 11-1 (11-3) Held up, hampered 3rd (The Chair) and fell at the 10th in race won by Liberthine (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr, 29 ran.
Airgusta (IRE) 11-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 15, 10l behind Bishop's Bridge (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Theatre Groom (USA) 9-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, ridden after 3 out, one pace from next, 5th of 13, 22l behind Vinando (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd.
Donald (POL) 33-1 (11-4) Behind, brief effort 8th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Brewster (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 2 (A) gd in Dec '04, 10 ran.
Armagh South (IRE) 50-1 (11-3) Behind, moderate late headway, 9th of 14, 21l behind Swift Sailor (11-8) at Plumpton 2m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Oct.
