held up towards rear, headway, in touch 12th, blundered badly 4 out, unable to recover
led until took wrong course and ran out on bend after 3rd
left in lead after 3rd, headed 7th, stayed well there until ridden, lost place quickly 10th, tailed off in rear
held up towards rear, steady headway from 11th, chasing leaders before 2 out, challenging for 2nd and staying on when blundered and nearly unseated rider last, unable to recover
soon close up on inside, challenging from 4 out, switched out approaching 2 out, led 2 out, in command last, kept on strongly flat
chased leaders, ridden, lost place after 11th, well in rear, no chance when blundered 3 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 6th, challenged from 4 out until weakened quickly after next
behind, mistake 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 8th
chased leaders until unseated rider 1st
mid-division, mistake 12th, soon struggling, well in rear when blundered 3 out
towards rear, stayed on approaching 2 out, kept on well flat, never nearer
chased leaders, led after 7th, kept advantage until mistake, headed 2 out, chased winner after, held before last, kept on gamely to hold 2nd
mid-division, mistake 3rd, blundered 8th, soon struggling, dropped to rear 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
held up in mid-division, headway to get in behind leaders when blundered 4 out, not fluent next, chased leaders soon after, kept on into 3rd after last
towards rear, mistakes 7th and 12th, no chance, well in rear when hit 4 out
behind, pushed along from 8th, never on terms with leaders
not always fluent, chased leaders, hit 10th, still well there under pressure approaching 3 out, weakened before next
A really good renewal of one of the features on the National Hunt calendar and we will take a chance on IDOLE FIRST to come back to his best and score, while the Paul Nicholls-trained pair Chapoturgeon and Poquelin can both go well, and Mount Oscar is a live contender. Pre-race favourite Atouchbetweenacara left a big impression when trouncing a Grade 2 field at the spring meeting, when last seen out, and he has been hiked up the weights as a result. He may still be well handicapped, but, on his first start since joining Tim Vaughan from Venetia Williams, he has that to prove. In addition to that both of his wins have come on good ground, and it may be that he needs a sound surface to produce his best. Either way there is little value in his price, nor that of either Chapoturgeon or Poquelin. The former of that pair scored from an 18lb lower mark over course and distance in last season's Jewson and then departed too early to be a force in the Paddy Power at last month's Open meeting. Soft ground suits and a clear round gives him a decent chance, but he has fallen now on two of his last three starts. With Timmy Murphy retained on Chapoturgeon, Ruby Walsh rides stablemate Poquelin, who was runner-up to Tranquil Sea in the Paddy Power. Although he acts with cut, he is clearly better on decent ground and from 1lb higher this won't be any easier. There was a lot to like about how Mount Oscar battled away to beat Pasco at Newbury on Hennessy day, and from 6lbs higher this confirmed mudlark should be hugely competitive once again, though a lack of form at the track is a slight concern. It is fitness, rather than course form, that is the doubt about the selection Idole First. Venetia Williams' gelding has not been seen since clearly not right when down the field behind Tamarinbleu in this race two years ago. He had previously won the Racing Post Plate over this course and distance at the 2007 Festival and he resumes racing from that same mark of 136. If able to reproduce that ability after such a huge lay-off then he is well handicapped. In addition to that, he acts with cut in the ground, and he goes very well when fresh, so with the yard in good form he looks worth chancing at a big price. Tamarinbleu has been dropped 8lbs since beaten in the Charlie Hall, a piece of form that was franked by Deep Purple's Peterborough Chase win on Thursday, but although he goes well here the ground may be a bit too soft for him. Stablemate Our Vic looks another with claims at a tasty price. He loves the mud and although he might just prefer more of a break between races at this age, there is no doubt he retains plenty of ability after last week's Warwick win. He goes very well here and looks well weighted on his best form, so a win would be no great shock. Sky's The Limit seems to have lost his way a little but would look well handicapped if able to show his best, while Skippers Brig and From Dawn To Dusk both need to improve, though the former would welcome further rain. Razor Royale loves it here and his trainer has a formidable CV in the race, so this soft ground performer might still go well despite an 11lb rise for scoring here last time, though we will chance Idole First to produce an upset.
Gwanako (FR) 12-1 (11-7) Pulled hard and prominent, challenging when mistake and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Albertas Run (11-1) at Ascot 2m 3f Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov, 8 ran.
Our Vic (IRE) 3-1 (10-12) With leader, ridden approaching 2 out, led last, driven out, won at Warwick 3m chs (2) sft beating Miss Mitch (10-9) by 2 1/2l, 5 ran.
Tamarinbleu (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 12th, challenged 4 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out, rallied and every chance final 75 yards, just failed, 2nd of 5, hd behind Deep Purple (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Oct.
Chapoturgeon (FR) 7-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, blundered and fell 7th, in a race won by Tranquil Sea (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Poquelin (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, slow jump 11th, headway between last 2, kept on well flat, went 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Tranquil Sea (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
Stan (NZ) 50-1 (11-6) In touch, fell 7th (Foinavon), in a race won by Mon Mome (11-0) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Apr, 40 ran.
Atouchbetweenacara (IRE) 11-4fav (10-4) Led 3rd, drew well clear after 4 out, very easily, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gd in Apr beating Private Be (10-7) by 24l, 9 ran.
Knowhere (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Behind, hit 5th, tailed off 9th, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Tranquil Sea (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov, 16 ran.
Bible Lord (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Held up, mistake 1st, in mid division 6th when fell 5th, in a race won by Dev (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) sft in Nov, 11 ran.
Sky's The Limit (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, 5th halfway, lost place before 6 out, towards rear 5 out, ridden into 5th 3 out, no impression in 4th last, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 3l behind Sizing America (9-12) at Fairyhouse 2m 1f hcp chs 0-140 hvy.
Jayo (FR) 6-5fav (11-3) Settled behind leaders, 5th halfway, bad mistake 3 out, soon ridden, rear and no impression entering straight, kept on one pace, 5th of 7, 22l behind Royal County Star (11-2) at Punchestown 2m 2f chs sft in May.
Razor Royale (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) In touch, led 3 out, left clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Nov beating The Sawyer (11-6) by 23l, 15 ran.
Mount Oscar (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Led to 2nd, prominent, chased leader from 4 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on well run in to lead near finish, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Nov beating Pasco (11-6) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
Skippers Brig (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, left in lead 6 out, headed approaching next, challenged on bit approaching last, shaken up to lead flat, stayed on well, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft beating Etxalar (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
From Dawn To Dusk 9-2fav (10-7) Held up mid-division, soon chasing leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, challenged next, every chance last, weakened flat, lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Valley Ride (9-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Idole First (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Prominent early, in touch, outpaced when blundered 4 out, no impression on leaders after, blundered 2 out, 7th of 16, 16l behind Tamarinbleu (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs (1) gd in Dec '07.
Hold Em (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Chased leader, went 2nd and pecked 2 out, stayed chasing winner, driven, no impression when lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Tranquil Sea (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Nov.
