held up, pecked 2nd, headway 11th, close up and ridden approaching 2 out, every chance run-in, kept on
mid-division, headway 10th, outpaced 13th, stayed on again from 3 out
led until after 2nd, led 7th until 10th, led again next, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened after 2 out
led after 2nd until 7th, chased leaders and soon driven along, weakened approaching 4 out
held up, making headway when pulled up before 12th
in touch, headway 13th, ridden to challenge 4 out, every chance after 2 out, kept on
behind when blundered badly and unseated rider 13th
held up, not fluent and unseated rider 9th
tracked leaders, led 10th until next, led approaching 4 out, soon hard pressed and ridden, kept on gamely, all out
Templer narrowly gets the nod over Bobsleigh and stablemates Bob Bites Back and Desert Tommy, while solid support for Brigadier Benson would be noteworthy. Brigadier Benson has not been seen in action for the best part of two years, so it would not come as a surprise to see him chomping at the bit today. He makes his debut over fences at a modest level and, assuming he retains ability, he does not have much to find (on his hurdles rating) to get competitive. Bob Bites Back and stablemate Desert Tommy are quite closely matched and it will be interesting to note the riding tactics this afternoon. Both can be expected to go close, but Bob Bites Back is open to more improvement and may be the best betting proposition on this occasion. Bobsleigh is yet to win a chase but can draw from plenty of experience. He will be hard to keep out of the frame if he runs to his best. However, preference goes to Templer, whose stable did so well with his half-brother In Contrast. This fellow needs to have the rub of the green this afternoon, but he has done little wrong in his last few starts and is fancied to be revitalised by the new challenge over the larger obstacles.
Bobsleigh 10-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, ridden after 14th, kept on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 5, 10l behind Ca Na Trona (11-12) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Brigadier Benson (IRE) 7-2 (10-8) Tracked leader 3rd, led 6th, headed 2 out, chased winner and every chance last, not quicken and lost 2nd near finish, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Touch of Fate (10-4) at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (D) gd in Oct '05.
Cloudland (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Led, jumped well 2 out, pressed from 2 out, ridden and caught near finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind Hibernian (11-3) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) gd in Mar.
Desert Tommy 4-5fav (11-0) Tracked leader, ridden 3 out, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Cresswell Willow (10-7) at Plumpton 3m 2f beg chs (4) gd.
Nils Anderson (FR) 16-1 (11-3) In touch, ridden to chase clear leaders 3 out, weakened, 4th of 6, 15l behind Gan Eagla (11-3) at Hereford 2m 3f beg chs (4) gf.
Bob Bites Back (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Held up, blundered 6th, improved to go 3rd at 8th, weakened 5 out, 3rd of 5, 32l behind Blu Teen (11-6) at Fakenham 3m nov chs (3) gf.
Norton Sapphire 14-1 (10-9) Led to 4th, stayed prominent, every chance 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 18, 15l behind Silver Charmer (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Templer (IRE) 7-2jt-fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led briefly approaching 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Blaeberry (11-7) at N Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
