tracked leader, led 14th, ridden from 2 out, all out towards finish
held up, headway on inside approaching 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened flat
held up, jumped slowly 2nd, not fluent 13th, headway and brought wide approaching 4 out, hung badly left flat, stayed on
led, hit and headed 14th, soon ridden, no extra flat
always prominent, ridden after 14th, chased winner 2 out, ran on towards finish
in touch, lost place 11th, tailed off from 14th
Nonrunner
This is not the strongest of races, with Cristophe getting the call ahead of Barren Lands. There are many question marks about many of these, and maybe there are less about the selection, who won over course and distance from a four-pounds lower mark last time. For us, that makes him a key player today. Barren Lands comes here in good heart, which is an advantage, but the handicapper has raised him for those good efforts. Saafend Rocket has shown that he can go well from his current mark so his chance is not dismissed, but The Rising Moon has yet to convince over fences, Mill Bank has more to do after being raised ten pounds for a Hereford win, although he is not ruled out of things, Snipe would hold a good chance on the best of his hurdling form, although he has not been so good of late, and Blazing Batman, who refused to race last time, has more to do after being raised for a Chepstow selling win. All of which returns us to the selection, which is Cristophe.
Barren Lands 7-2jt-fav (10-1) Chased leaders, lost place 11th, no chance after, 6th of 11, 23l behind On The Outside (10-8) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Jul.
Saafend Rocket (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, one pace from last, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Dancing Hill (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gf.
The Rising Moon (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Raced wide behind, headway 11th, ridden approaching 4 out, soon weakened, behind when mistake 3 out, 6th of 8, 38l behind Kings Brook (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd.
Mill Bank (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Led, headed and hit 10th, led again briefly after 12th, soon ridden, beaten when mistake 3 out, 2nd of 8, 12l behind Tommy Spar (11-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
Snipe 4-1 (10-12) Bumped and left in lead 1st, headed 4th, remained prominent, 2nd when blundered badly 10th, not recover, 6th of 7, well behind Mooramana (11-9) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Blazing Batman 12-1 (10-8) Mid-division, lost place at 9th, lost touch 14th and refused 5 out in race won by Waynesworld (10-13) at N Abbot 3m 2f cnd hcp chs (5) gf, 7 ran.
Cristophe 5-2 (10-10) Held up towards rear, ridden 16th, soon lost touch, 3rd of 6, well behind He's The Biz (10-11) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
