mid-division on inside, lost place approaching 6th, soon behind, tailed off
held up behind, headway on outside 4th, effort 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last, no impression flat, lost 4th towards finish
held up towards rear, hit 5th, headway after 4 out, challenged last, ridden to lead and edged left flat, kept on well
in rear, struggling 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led, clear to after 3rd, joined 3 out, headed next, one pace approaching last
mid-division, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leader, effort 3 out, ridden and one pace approaching last, no impression with leading pair flat
tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, driven and outpaced when carried right approaching 3 out, stayed on from last, took 4th towards finish, never on terms
mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, outpaced when switched right approaching next, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led next, ridden and headed when switched right flat, no extra towards finish
Paintball did well in his first season over hurdles, winning at Ludlow and his final start at Cheltenham. He's gone up a further 7lb for that latest success but his yard is in fine form and he is capable of further progress. Rumble Of Thunder has to go on the short-list after improving to land a Listed handicap at Market Rasen last month, while Donald McCain's pair Reindeer Dippin and Jubail both have ability. Laterly and Dontpaytheferryman should be worth following again this winter but the fly in the ointment in this may be ARCTIC WINGS. Lightly-raced last season, he was just beaten off this mark at Newbury in March and could go close here at generous odds.
Reindeer Dippin 40-1 (9-12) Held up mid-division, headway 6th, led 3 out ridden before and headed last, kept on, 2nd of 22, 1 1/4l behind Russian War (10-1) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Apr.
Paintball (IRE) 4-1fav (10-13) Held up rear of mid-division, hit 2 out, headway approaching last, challenging at hurdle, led flat, driven out, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr beating Salontyre (11-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Rumble Of Thunder (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway on outer 3 out, led 2 out, headed last, soon regained lead, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Sep beating King In Waiting (11-1) by hd, 15 ran.
Rollwiththepunches 8-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, driven and every chance after 3 out, weakened after next, 5th of 14, 14l behind Ocean Transit (10-8) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Laterly (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Led, jumped left, headed 1st, led 4th until next, weakened after 3 out, pulled up after, in a race won by Viva Colonia (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 1f Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Jul, 16 ran.
Jubail (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Led until after 1st, chased leading pair, went 2nd 3rd, ridden 4 out, well held when blundered and weakened next, eased, 5th of 6, 29l behind Domtaline (11-10) at Chepstow 2m Limited hcp hdl (2) gd.
Highway Code (USA) 9-4 (11-6) Always prominent, went 2nd before 4th, led 3 out, not fluent last, driven out, won at Warwick 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Astrodiva (10-7) by 1l, 11 ran.
Dontpaytheferryman (USA) 9-4 (10-12) With leaders, pushed along 7th, went 2nd briefly before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 4th of 5, 21l behind King In Waiting (10-12) at Wetherby 2m nov chs (4) gd in May.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Towards rear, ridden after 5th, mistake next, headway approaching 8th, mistake 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 11, 30l behind Premier Grand Cru (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Dance For Julie (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Made most, mistake 2 out, ridden and headed before last, rallied flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Mavalenta (10-6) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
