tracked winner, mistake 3rd, lost 2nd next, 2nd again after 6th until before 4 out, weakened next
chased leaders until 4th, well behind from 7th, tailed off
held up, took keen hold, headway when not fluent 4th, chased winner next until after 6th, mistake 8th, soon behind, tailed off
made all, mistake 5 out, clear when jumped left and not fluent 4 out, eased towards finish
held up in touch, took keen hold, not fluent 5th and lost place, pulled up after next
held up in rear, went 3rd 9th, closed next, chased winner approaching 4 out, mistake 3 out, went right and no impression last
held up, went 4th after 6th, not fluent and behind from next, tailed off
THE JIGSAW MAN has a fantastic record and was not disgraced when finishing second in his chasing debut, whilst Cullahill won by a distance last time out and Thelobstercatcher makes his first appearance of the year. Rebecca Curtis puts forward The Jigsaw Man for this race and with a record that reads five wins from eight races with only the one race last December where he finished out of the places, he has to be respected. Although fourteen lengths behind the winner at Ffos Las last time, he can be expected to benefit from that experience and we fancy him here. Cullahill was very impressive on his last outing at Worcester and with the usual tongue strap on again today remains firmly in calculations. Thelobstercatcher has won over the hurdles at this sort of trip and on his seasonal bow and first try in chase company cannot be ruled out. Cherokee Star is another who attempts the fences for the first time and comes here on the back of success in points. However, our pick in this race is The Jigsaw Man.
Cullahill (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Made virtually all, jumped right on occasions, drew clear from 12th, easily, won at Worcester 2m 7f beg chase (4) gd beating Orchard King (10-7) by 40l, 6 ran.
Cherokee Star (11-7) Made all; comf, won at Chaddesley Corbett 3m ptp in May beating Ben Ryan (12-0) by 7l, 2 ran.
Gilded Youth 100-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pulled hard, mistake 5th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, well behind Niceonefrankie (10-10) at Towcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
The Jigsaw Man (IRE) 4-9fav (10-12) Not fluent, led to 2nd, chased winner, mistake 5th, went left next, under pressure after 9th, no chance from 4 out, eased after next, 2nd of 4, 14l behind West With The Wind (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m nov chs (4) gf.
Thelobstercatcher 14-1 (11-9) Soon chased leaders in 6th, niggled along from 5 out, dropped behind from after 3 out, 6th of 9, 31l behind Slieveardagh (11-12) at Tramore 2m nh nov hdl hvy in Dec.
Tribunel 40-1 (10-12) Mistakes 4 out and 3 out, always in rear, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind Cash Back (10-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Watch Out 16-1 (10-12) Held up in touch in 5th, went 4th after 7th, went 3rd after last, every chance bend entering straight, weakened final 100 yards, 3rd of 5, 7l behind Thumbs Up (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f nov chs (4) gd in May.
Vic's World (IRE) 9-1 (10-4) Held up, headway 7th, hampered next, chased winner last, no impression, 2nd of 6, 7l behind Silver Story (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f beg chase (4) gd.
Giggles O'Shea (IRE) 33-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, pushed along approaching 9th, weakened 11th, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Midnight Chase (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chase (4) gs in Mar, 5 ran.