chased leading pair, not fluent 8th, pushed along after 3 out, soon no chance with leading duo, lost 3rd post
chased leaders, weakened between last two
took keen hold in rear, struggling before 8th, tailed off when went left 3 out, pulled up before next
made all, clear and going best approaching 2 out, kept on strongly, shaken up run-in, eased close home
soon chasing winner, pushed along before 2 out, soon held, kept on for clear 2nd
in touch, lost place 5th, never on terms with leaders after, tailed off
took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway 5th, hit 3 out and weakened, pulled up before next
in touch, headway approaching 2 out, kept on run-in into modest 3rd post
Nonrunner
UNCLE TONE scored at Ludlow easily enough earlier in the month and Alan Johns' claim reduces a large chunk of a 7lb penalty. He gets the nod over Present Man as the latter makes his hurdles debut having won a bumper here last year. Alottarain has been placed in two of his three starts over timber and should go well while Theatre Goer shares the same record over hurdles after a third at Warwick on her latest start. Knight Watchman is a half-brother to high-class chaser Last Instalment and is a newcomer to note in the betting.
Uncle Tone (IRE) 3-1fav (11-5) Led, wandered into 2nd, headed before 5th, chased leader, led again when not fluent 3 out, ridden clear flat, won at Ludlow 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct beating Samtu (11-5) by 12l, 4 ran.
Golden Bird (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, led over 2f out until well over 1f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 8, 6l behind Shifting Moon (8-10) at Chelmsford City 2m hcp (6) pol in Sep.
Knight Watchman (IRE) Evens (10-9) No hdwy 13; wl bhnd when pu 3 out, at Holnicote 3m mdn gd in May.
Max Forte (IRE) 4-1 (11-11) Alw pr, cl up 3out, rdn to chall 2out, better j last & ld brfly, hdd close home, 2nd of 12, nk behind Kilna Shane (12-2) at Stradbally 3m mdn in May.
Present Man (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Took keen hold in touch, pushed along over 4f out, soon lost place, tailed off, last of 11, dist behind Barters Hill (11-3) at Newbury 2m lst (1) sft in Feb.
Westend Prince (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 7f out, weakened 5f out, tailed off, 4th of 5, dist behind Kayf Adventure (10-11) at Warwick 2m (6) hvy in Mar.
Alottarain (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden after 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, no impression, 4th of 10, 7 1/2l behind Lolli (10-12) at Worcester 2m mdn (5) gd in Jul.
Theatre Goer 14-1 (10-7) In touch in rear trio, outpaced before 7th, behind 4 out, went 3rd before 2 out, stayed on, no impression, 3rd of 5, 6 3/4l behind Atlantic Gold (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Trakeur (FR) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, took keen hold, went 3rd after 3 out, well held next, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 6, 24 3/4l behind Fourth Act (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 5f mdn (5) gf in Oct.
