held up in 3rd after 1st, ridden and weakened after 5th, tailed off and pulled up after 7th
held up, went 3rd after 5th, not fluent 7th, chased winner 3 out, no challenge
jumped right 1st, fell 2nd
always behind, tailed off from after 4th
chased leader, led 6th, drew clear approaching 3 out, unchallenged
led, clear approaching 2nd, blundered 4th, headed 6th, weakened and lost 2nd 3 out
mistakes, held up, well behind after 4th, went for remote 3rd after last
took keen hold in rear, hampered 2nd, mistake 3rd, tailed off from after 4th
Hero Again is the one to be on here, with Cash On and Legal Glory the pair to chase him home. Hero Again, campaigned on soft ground without success in Ireland, duly made a winning start to his British career at Towcester in May in a race in which only four of the 15 runners got home in the ground. Quite predictably, the time was slow, as it was when he was then sent off as favourite at Newton Abbot the following month. The dawdle on that occasion did not play to his strengths unfortunately, and he was turned over by Cava Bien. He has had another rest since, and this slightly better ground will hopefully see Jonjo O'Neill's charge gallop his rivals into submission to get losses back, with Cash On seen as his main rival. The latter won tidily enough here over two miles on his last visit, but that too was a very moderate affair, and he will do well to match the selection over today's longer trip. Legal Glory has shaped well to be placed on each of his last two outings over timber, but as a full-brother to Big Rob, is destined for a career over fences sooner rather than later. The rest are hard to fancy, and with conditions in his favour, it is Hero Again that can come out on top.
Hero Again (IRE) Evensfav (11-6) Tracked leaders, chased leader 5th, ridden and every chance after 3 out, no further impression, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Cava Bien (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 6f nov hdl (4) sft in Jun.
Cash On (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) Held up, headway after 5th, led 2 out, ran on, won at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) gf beating Quarrymount (11-2) by 3l, 9 ran.
Blake Hall Lad (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, 14th of 17, well behind Gallant Approach (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m nov hdl (E) gs in Nov.
Davy Jack (IRE) 12-1 (10-12) Chased leaders to 6th, 5th of 10, well behind Ar An Shron (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf.
Legal Glory (IRE) 3-1 (10-9) Held up in mid-division, headway approaching 7th, chased leaders 3 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 3l behind First Thought (10-6) at N Abbot 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jul.
Macaroni Gold (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Always behind, 9th of 13, well behind Mith Hill (11-4) at Hereford 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gs in Feb.
Dizzy Future 33-1 (10-8) With leader until ridden after 7th, soon weakened, 7th of 15, 27l behind Stokesies Boy (10-11) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jul.
Entrelechambre 100-1 (10-5) Pulled hard in touch, driven over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 16, 19l behind Burnt Oak (11-2) at Cheltenham 1m 4f nhf lst (1) gs in Jan.
