close up, led before 3rd, headed 5th, ridden after 2 out, not fluent last, soon weakened
held up towards rear, headway before 8th to chase leaders, ridden before 2 out, went 3rd before last, kept on towards finish
always towards rear, pulled up
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, soon ridden, went 4th from last, one pace
made most, ridden after last, kept on well towards finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 5th to 6th, mistake 9th, pushed along along after 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear
in touch in 5th, went 4th before 2 out, chased winner 2 out, kept on and held towards finish
tracked leaders in 4th, reminders after 12th, weakened before 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 7th, pushed along after 12th, tailed off 13th, pulled up
The progressive Emperor's Choice had rattled up a hat-trick before running poorly at Cheltenham. He has decent claims if back to his best and Swincombe Rock has a shout on his second at Exeter last year, though he's far from reliable. American Spin and Camden have won novice events but Bangor winner Alderluck makes more appeal with a recent run under his belt. Buck's Bond scored over these fences earlier in the year but his jumping has gone to pieces since while Flying Award has superior form to both Adrenalin Flight and The Clyda Rover and is another to consider. Nigel Twiston-Davies won this in 2008 with the ten-year-old Hello Bud and his veteran PETTIFOUR will be sharper for a recent outing at Kelso. The latter went very close off a 5lb higher mark at Warwick in February and can turn back the clock in this.
Emperor's Choice (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Mid-division, lost place 13th, soon behind, struggling 16th, no danger after, tailed off, 7th of 16, well behind Back In Focus (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m am nov chs (2) gs in Mar.
Swincombe Rock 22-1 (11-9) Welll in rear, tailed off when mistake and unseated rider 18th, in a race won by Standing Ovation (10-0) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Camden (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Raced keenly, led until 4th, led again after 6th until 8th, led again 12th until next, chased winner, held before last, kept on as winner almost stopped to a walk nearing finish, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Buck's Bond (10-9) at Fontwell 3m 2f nov chs (4) sft in Apr.
Alderluck (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders on inside, lost place 11th, disputed well beaten 4th when pecked 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 29l behind Gas Line Boy (11-9) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Boyfromnowhere (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Pressed leader, led and jumped right from 4th, headed 9th, chased winner until 5 out, ridden and kept on same pace in 3rd from next, 3rd of 5, 22l behind Shotgun Paddy (11-4) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (4) sft in Oct.
Buck's Bond (FR) 14-1 (10-13) Raced wide chasing leaders, mistake 2nd, pecked 11th, fell 17th, in a race won by Standing Ovation (10-0) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Flying Award (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway and in touch 17th, challenged after 5 out, led 3 out, ridden and held on under pressure flat, won at Perth 3m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr beating Victrix Gale (11-12) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Adrenalin Flight (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Prominent until 3rd, tracked leaders, hit 10th, well held by leading piar from 2 out, left 2nd last, 2nd of 10, 19l behind Midnight Prayer (11-3) at Stratford 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Oct.
Pettifour (IRE) 5-2fav (9-11) Held up in rear, hampered 6th, outpaced before 8th, reminders after 10th, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 8, 8l behind Knockara Beau (11-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
The Clyda Rover (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Mistakes, well in rear, went badly left 8th, well tailed off 15th, pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Standing Ovation (10-0) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
American Spin 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, soon lost place, 5th of 7, 49l behind Claret Cloak (11-3) at Towcester 2m nov chs (4) gf in Oct.
