held up, reminders 7th, behind from 8th, mistake 11th, went poor 3rd after 12th, tailed off
held up, headway 9th, went 2nd 11th, led inside final furlong, cleverly (last 2 fences omitted)
prominent to 5th, weakened quickly and pulled up before 8th
jumped right, prominent, led 3rd to 4th, led again before 6th, hard ridden and headed inside final furlong, not quicken
led to 3rd, led again 4th until before 6th, weakening when mistake 12th, tailed off
in rear, mistake 3rd, jumped slowly 8th, behind from next, tailed off
Hero Again is the pick ahead of Middleham Park, No Complaint and Haydon Lady. Hero Again showed that he can handle cut in the ground when scoring over hurdles at Towcester last year, and will appreciate both the easier going and step up in trip this afternoon, having chased home the useful Genghis at Hereford on his third start over fences recently. That rival was rated 112, and there is nothing of that calibre against him here, so he should take the beating. Middleham Park appears to be the main danger, having carried his fair share of weight into second place, also at Towcester, in a class 4 handicap last time. He needs to brush up his jumping, but should have the stamina to last home at least. No Complaint had to shoulder 11st 12lb round Bangor on his latest outing over timber, and Tom George has probably been forced to switch his attention to the bigger obstacles by the handicapper. He is worth noting for the future, as is pointer Haydon Lady. Jonjo O'Neill could have run Two Miles West in this, but relies on Hero Again instead, and he can prove an able substitute.
Charabang (IRE) 66-1 (10-13) fell at the 2nd in race won by Irish Wolf (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd, 11 ran.
Hero Again (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Towards rear, mistake 4th, closer order 8th, ridden to chase winner 2 out, ran on, 2nd of 16, 1 1/2l behind Genghis (11-0) at Hereford 2m 3f nov chs (4) gf.
Jolly Joe (IRE) 40-1 (10-13) Led, not fluent and headed 5th, not fluent 7th, jumped slowly 10th, weakening when blundered and unseated rider at the 11th in race won by Itsmyboy (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd in May, 9 ran.
No Complaint (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Led from 1st, headed after 3 out, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 13, 8l behind Kilrossanty (10-2) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Toy Boy (IRE) 33-1 (9-11) Mistake and unseated rider in race won by Metal Detector (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 10 ran.
Haydon Lady 6-1 (11-12) Held up in tch; prog 14; chall last; drvn & just failed, 2nd of 9, shd behind Stark Raven (12-5) at Aspatria 3m ptp gd in May.
Middleham Park (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway when pecked 11th, mistake 14th, kept on one pace from 3 out, 2nd of 10, 18l behind Metal Detector (11-5) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
