raced keenly, held off, headway 9th, went 2nd 15th, led and hit 3 out, clear approaching last, stayed on strongly
held up, hampered 3rd and 9th, ridden when mistake 12th, soon struggling, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
led until 3 out, soon ridden, disputing 4th when fell 2 out
mid-division, headway 8th, fell 9th
held up in touch, hampered 3rd, lost place 7th, progress 14th, ridden 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
prominent, left 2nd at 3rd until 9th, regained 2nd 12th until 15th, soon ridden, weakening when stumbled and hampered 2 out
held up, ridden 13th, progress when hit 15th, disputing 4th and staying on when fell 2 out
last when not fluent 1st, hampered 3rd, losing further ground when mistake and unseated rider 7th
with leader until fell 3rd
held up in touch, badly hampered and lost place 9th, behind after, tailed off when jumped very slowly 16th, immediately pulled up
in touch, went 2nd 9th until 12th, lost place 4 out, regained 2nd out, stayed on same pace but no chance with winner
chased leaders to 12th, soon behind, stayed on from last but no danger
Lady of Scarvagh, Hot Weld and Martha's Kinsman look the three to consider here and Martha's Kinsman is taken to come out on top. A winner at Worcester two outings ago in a Beginners' Chase, Lady of Scarvagh finished third to Hot'n'Holy in a good quality contest at Chepstow last time. Time may show that was a good performance and Lady of Scarvagh has a decent chance here despite relative inexperience over the bigger obstacles. Hot Weld took several outings to get going last season but finished the season in terrific form, with a Cheltenham Festival success, and a great run in defeat in a top Irish contest. He may well need a greater test of stamina to be seen to best effect. Martha's Kinsman is the epitome of consistency, having not been out of the first three in his last eight starts. He has a Ludlow success to his credit over fences and the yard is going well. Martha's Kinsman may turn out to be well treated here.
Ardaghey (IRE) 25-1 (10-8) Behind, effort 13th, weakened 4 out, 10th of 18, well behind State of Play (10-2) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Hot Weld 7-1 (11-13) Moderate 2nd, took closer order before 6 out, led after 5 out, bad mistake 4 out, soon ridden and strongly pressed, headed approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 17, 3l behind Howaya Pet (11-13) at Punchestown 4m hcp chs 0-140.
Scots Grey 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, effort 4 out, ridden and one pace from next, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Ballycassidy (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Darby Wall (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Towards rear, bad mistake 7 out, stayed on without threatening from before 3 out, 5th of 17, 19l behind Bothar Na (10-13) at Listowel 3m hcp chs sft in Sept.
Le Jaguar (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Behind, hit 9th, ridden after 13th, hit 16th, soon lost touch and pulled up 4 out in race won by The Bandit (11-7) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) frm in Apr, 9 ran.
Martha's Kinsman (IRE) 3-1fav (10-5) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden next, chased winner approaching 2 out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Ballycassidy (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Red Echo (FR) 7-2co-fav (10-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, lost 2nd 14th, chased winner and mistake 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 7, 22l behind Mr Fluffy (10-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Aug.
Winsley 10-3 (10-4) Held up in touch, chased leading pair 4 out, kept on run-in to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Full House (11-7) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Lady of Scarvagh (IRE) 7-2 (10-5) Held up, mistakes, blundered badly 14th, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 19l behind Hot 'n' Holy (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) gd.
Dolmur (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, outpaced and mistake 7th, weakened approaching 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by King Barry (11-3) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gf in Jun, 15 ran.
Xellance (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway 15th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 10, 17l behind Meehan (11-4) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Happy Hussar (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Held up in rear, well behind 4th, lots to do 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Allaboveboard (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gf in Sept.
