held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, headway under pressure after next, left 2nd when hampered 2 out, led between last 2, stayed on flat
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, went 2nd 8th, led narrowly when mistake and unseated rider 2 out
held up in touch, lost place 4 out, behind when mistake 3 out and next, tailed off
in touch, led 3rd, jumped right and headed next, chased leader, lost place 8th, outpaced 3 out, no impression from next
pressed leader, led 4th, driven and headed narrowly when left in lead again 2 out, soon ridden and headed, 3rd and no impression when hampered by loose horse last
held up towards rear, headway on inside and in touch 8th, outpaced 3 out, weakened from next
led narrowly, blundered and headed 3rd, tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders until dropped towards rear 3rd, struggling when mistake 5th, soon tailed off
held up behind on outside, switched inside after 7th, headway 3 out, left 3rd next, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd before last, no impression with winner
Nonrunner
Pin D'Estruval had the run of the race when beating Dean's Grange at Newton Abbot and has more on his plate here off a 6lb higher mark. JIM TANGO is interesting as he doesn't look badly handicapped back over fences after a couple of confidence-boosting wins over hurdles. Donald McCain's seven-year-old gets the nod as Tilly Ann, second on her reappearance at Market Rasen, may need softer ground to show her best. Restezen D'Armor and Mccauley both return from a break but could figure if fully wound-up, along with Up To The Mark, but it's hard to make a case for Adajal judged on recent efforts.
Restezen D'armor (FR) 9-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, dropped into mid-division after 4th, lost place approaching 10th, well beaten before 4 out, 8th of 11, 48l behind Russian Epic (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
McCauley (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Soon off the pace, struggling in 7th before 4 out, never on terms, 9th of 12, 40l behind Takeroc (11-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hts chs (5) gd in May.
Midnight Opera 9-2 (11-7) Led, hard driven 3 out, headed before next, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 8l behind Temple Place (10-0) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Aug.
Up To The Mark 8-1 (11-4) Led, not fluent 2nd, headed 7th, ridden after 12th, weakened approaching 4 out, 6th of 11, 45l behind Russian Epic (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Pin D'Estruval (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Made all, clear 4 out until 2 out, held on well, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf beating Dean's Grange (11-4) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Jim Tango (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Tracked leader, led after 4th, ridden approaching 2out, driven out, won at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Aug beating Sentimentaljourney (10-11) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Michigan Assassin (IRE) 11-1 (10-10) Took keen hold, led until after 3 out, weakened from next, 5th of 7, 21l behind Cappagh (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
Adajal (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up disputing 3rd, mistake 3 out, soon weakenend, 4th of 6, 25l behind Mister Fantastic (10-13) at Stratford 2m am hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Saddlers Deal (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Chased leaders in 4th, weakened 4 out, 4th of 7, 21l behind Tahiti Pearl (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
Tilly Ann (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in last, took keen hold, not fluent 4th, in touch but waited with before 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, soon shaken up, left 2nd last, closed on winner, never near to challenge, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Zorro De La Vega (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Aug.
