chased leaders, lost place 3rd, hampered next, reminder after 9th, behind 12th, tailed off
in rear, mistake 7th, headway 12th, blundered 14th, 4 lenghts down 5th when blundered 3 out, no impression after, weakened 2 out
towards rear, reminder after 8th, behind 12th, pulled up before 13th
prominent, coaxed along 9th, weakened 12th, tailed off
in touch, jumped right 4th, ridden and weakened when jumped right 10th, pulled up before 11th
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, went 2nd 5th, led 9th until next, mistakes 11th and 12th, led after 14th, headed 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, ridden 11th, headway on outside when not fluent next, weakened approaching last
chased leaders on outside, lost place 4th, headway after 9th, led 4 out, headed when mistake last, weakened flat
led until 9th, led next until after 14th, weakening when blundered 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 11th, went 2nd 3 out, led last, stayed on well
Wizards Dust, Hoof It Harry and Kilshannig are respected but NAUGHTY BY NATURE gets our vote. Rebecca Curtis has her horses in excellent form, having saddled four of her last six runners to victory with the other two placed. Add that to the fact that Naughty By Nature took a clear second despite jumping poorly last time and has conditions to suit and it's easy to make a case for the seven-year-old. If he jumps round safely, our pick shouldn't be far away at the death. Wizards Dust rates best of the rest having placed off this mark the last twice and like the favourite has his conditions; stable form was the deciding factor between the pair. Kilshannig is a touch one-paced so this step up in trip looks a good move ahead of his chasing debut, but he's not the biggest and anyone back him is taking a chance he can overcome the obstacles. Hoof It Harry may have just been outstayed last time having won previously and the handicapper's 2lb drop may prove generous, although the fact that Richard Johnson chooses to ride Lord Gunnerslake here doesn't speak well for the former's chance. Tim Vaughan's runner needs a career best to win and might be better over shorter but he's got a likeable attitude and further progress can't be ruled out. Borora finished a tired horse last time and arrives under a cloud while Swordsman hasn't translated recent flat improvement to this sphere, so we'll side with Naughty By Nature for an in-form outfit.
Skipper's Lad (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, not fluent 2nd, ridden 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 5th of 12, 6l behind Petroupetrov (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Port Talbot (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) In rear, not fluent 1st, mistake 8th, not fluent 2 out, went remote 3rd before last, tailed off, 3rd of 9, 36l behind Billie Magern (10-12) at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (4) gf.
Manadam (FR) 9-4fav (10-8) Prominent, not fluent 5th, led after 8th, headed before next, ridden and weakened after 3 out, tailed off, last of 5, well behind Valley Ride (11-4) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Wizards Dust 5-1 (10-11) Led until 3rd, led 9th until after 14th, soon ridden and outpaced by leader, lost 2nd approaching last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Andrew Nick (11-2) at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Hoof It Harry (IRE) 9-4fav (11-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 8th, led 4 out, ridden and headed 3 out, blundered when well held last, 2nd of 8, 22l behind Cold Mountain (11-4) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Swordsman (GER) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, reminders after 1st, not fluent 2nd, reminder after 7th, led approaching 14th, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened from next, 3rd of 8, 39l behind Cold Mountain (11-4) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd.
Naughty By Nature 11-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, jumped right and ridden 11th, left in lead 4 out, headed and mistake last, no extra, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Midnight Gold (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Borora 6-1 (11-2) Held up in 6th, closed before 8th, outpaced after next, no impression after, went modest 4th approaching 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 7, well behind High Jack (10-11) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Kilshannig (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway next, chased winner briefly approaching 2 out, one pace flat, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Strobe (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd.
Lord Gunnerslake (IRE) 5-1 (10-6) Held up towards rear, hampered 9th, steady headway from next, ridden after 13th, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 12, 20l behind Midnight Gold (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Alfadora 5-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, slightly hamperd 1st, headway after 8th, lost place next, outpaced approaching 12th, stayed to go 4th when jumped left and mistake last, no impression, 4th of 7, 27l behind Prophete De Guye (10-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
