mid-division and took keen hold early, headway to chase leader 5th, jumped right next, led 3 out, hard ridden and headed flat, no extra
tracked leader to 5th, bumped 7th, no impression from next
chased leaders, pecked 2nd, hampered 6th, hit 7th, ridden and weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 4f out
took keen hold, tracked leaders, jumped left 7th, weakened next
held up, jumped left 3rd, headway after 8th, ridden and close up last, no impression flat
soon behind, tailed off from 4th
held up, not fluent 5th, headway 8th, ridden approaching 2 out, led flat, ran on
help up on touch, headway 7th, weakened after 4f out, 5th when pulled up before 2 out
lead, pecked 8th, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last
Never can improve to open his account over fences at the expense of Dewasentah, Queen Soraya and Demi Beau. Never was a very useful hurdler in France, and was sent over by Francois Doumen to land a Grade 2 hurdle event at Ascot four years ago. Since joining Jonjo O'Neill however he has been on a downward spiral and the switch to fences last year hardly galvanised him into winning. There may be light at the end of the tunnel though as he shaped fairly well on his first outing in 12 months when finishing second at Bangor last month, and if he can brush up his jumping, the so far disappointing eight-year-old can finally come good again. Dewasentah was put up nearly a stone after scoring over hurdles at Uttoxeter but has run well since. Malcolm Jefferson thinks he has been hard done by though and now switches this consistent animal to fences. If taking to them at the first time of asking he will surely be a big danger in receipt of seven pounds from the selection. Queen Soraya comes from a stable that knows how to get them to jump but has been absent since May, while Demi Beau has been off since April. All in all, without being a reliable betting proposition, Never is the percentage call.
Demi Beau 14-1 (10-4) Held up, hit 4th, headway next, weakened after 4 out, 12th of 13, well behind Genghis (10-11) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl (A) gd in Apr.
Faddad (USA) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and lost place after 5th, kept on flat, 5th of 10, 19l behind Jazz Night (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gf in Aug.
Investment Force (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Prominent until 4th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Outside Investor (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f sll hdl (G) gf in Aug, 12 ran.
Just Midas 66-1 (11-4) Pulled hard in rear, some headway approaching 4 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 10, 22l behind Jazz Night (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-90 (F) gf in Aug.
Never (FR) 5-2 (10-12) Held up and keen, mistake 2nd, headway 7th, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Sachsenwalzer (10-12) at Bangor 2m 1f beg chs (E) gd in Aug.
Tighe Caster 8-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway under pressure after 3 out, weakened after 2 out, mistake last, 7th of 17, 16l behind Yes Sir (11-9) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (B) gs in Apr.
Dewasentah (IRE) 4-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, pushed along approaching 6th, kept on well from last, went 2nd near finish, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Harrycat (10-11) at Stratford 2m nov hdl (C) gf in Aug.
Queen Soraya 3-1jt-fav (11-7) Chased leader, led approaching 4th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 9, 35l behind Almnadia (11-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (D) gf in May.
