in touch, went 2nd 5th, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed 2f out, led again 1f out, headed final 50 yards, not quicken
took keen hold, led, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, soon beaten
held up, no impression and towards rear when bumped 2 out
held up, headway 4th, led 2f out, soon ridden, headed 1f out, beaten when eased towards finish
held up, headway approaching 2 out, switched right and ridden over 1f out, kept on under strong pressure inside final furlong to lead final 50 yards
chased leader until 5th, weakening when jumped left 2 out
prominent, shaken up after 3rd, weakening when mistake 5th
It may be worth taking a chance on Kawagino over the likes of Great Character, Bee Hawk and Wenger to name but a few. Kawagino has continually taken on the best hurdlers around over the past few months, and not surprisingly has found it difficult to get his head in front. The Seamus Mullins-trained seven-year-old was an early casualty in the Swinton at Haydock last month, and now tries his hand at fences again. He has not looked a natural when tried over the bigger obstacles in the past, but his class will surely see him go close here. Great Character appears to have settled in well at Julian Smith's yard, coming good at Uttoxeter on just his third outing since coming over from Ireland, so he should continue to progress, while Bee Hawk is on a hat-trick after scarping home at Worcester, but really needs further. Wenger seemed to duck the issue when throwing away a winning opportunity at Towcester last time, and is worth taking on again, so we return to Kawagino as the answer.
Kawagino (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Mid-division when unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Leslingtaylor (9-11) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gd in May, 23 ran.
Wenger (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Headway 4th, went 2nd 7th, led 2 out, went right after last, soon hung left and headed, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Arctic Spirit (10-0) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
Great Character (IRE) 6-1 (10-1) Pulled hard, held up, headway 5th, restrained to rear next, headway on outside 4 out, led 3 out, clear last, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd beating Tonic Du Charmil (11-11) by 5l, 7 ran.
Jam Packed (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up towards rear on outside, headway 6th, ridden after 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out pulled up 2 out in race won by Phareight Dei (10-3) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Mr Bigglesworth (NZ) 4-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led 8th, headed approaching 2 out, faded after last, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Johnston's Swallow (10-4) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Incorporation 11-2 (12-0) Tracked leaders, chased winner over 4f out, weakened 2f out, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Swings 'n Strings (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May.
Rapide Plaisir (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) With leader, weakened 8th, mistake next, behind when fell at the last in race won by Forest Green (10-4) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May, 13 ran.
Beehawk 6-1 (11-6) Chased leaders, hampered 3rd, led 4 out, not fluent 2 out, hung right approaching last, headed flat, stayed on to lead again post, won at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd beating Albarino (11-5) by a shd, 15 ran.
