held up in touch, dropped to rear 2nd, blundered and unseated rider 4th
tracked leaders, lost ground 10th, weakend 13th
keen in rear, progress to track leader 4th, led next, ridden 2 out, pressed last, driven and headed towards finish, just held on to 2nd
led, headed 5th, tracked leader after, mistake 12th, blundered 4 out soon ridden, challenged last, led towards finish, ran on
tracked leaders, ridden 5 out, outpaced 2 out, rallied last, stayed on, just failed to snatch 2nd
held up, weakened 12th mistake next, soon behind, pulled up 4 out
Nicky Henderson's BONIKOS bounced back to winning ways when taking a handicap hurdle at Towcester when last seen in May and looks the one to beat on his reappearance and first start over fences in a beginners' chase where the opposition is thin on the ground but led by Art Gallery and Punjabi Army. Lucy Wadham's gelding was the highest rated of these over hurdles having earned a rating of 128 but he has been well beaten in his starts three starts over timber, admittedly in decent company, and will need to improve on those efforts to trouble the judge on his chasing debut. Commanche Dream was highly tried behind Punchestowns earlier this month and this is a more realistic level, while point-to-point winner Another Classic has failed to complete in three starts under rules. Michael Chapman's Feeling Peckish is readily discounted and of more interest is Art Gallery, who has at least won a race over hurdles, albeit in a selling handicap. This should not take much winning and Bonikos is taken to make a winning debut over fences for a stable that normally has their runners well schooled.
Another Classic 25-1 (10-9) Held up last, mistake 4th, blundered and unseated rider 10th, in a race won by Mobaasher (11-4) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov stks (3) gs, 5 ran.
Art Gallery 20-1 (11-2) Mid-division, jumped right 2nd, lost place 8th, fell 12th, in a race won by Quel Bruere (11-12) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs, 14 ran.
Bonikos (FR) 12-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, hit 3rd, pushed along after 6th, hard ridden 3 out, headway on outside approaching 2 out, went right to challenge last, soon led, driven out, won at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May beating Premier Des Marais (11-7) by nk, 13 ran.
Commanche Dream 150-1 (11-4) Soon held up in 4th, no chance and losing touch when blundered 13th, 4th of 5, well behind Punchestowns (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs G1 (1) gs.
Feeling Peckish (USA) 14-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, weakened 8th, 6th of 9, well behind Omix D'or (10-13) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Punjabi Army 28-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, led 3rd to next, chased leader until lost place 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after next, in a race won by The Minack (11-8) at Kempton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (3) sft in Jan, 12 ran.
