held up, headway 13th, led 4 out, under pressure last, hard ridden and edged left run in, just held on
held up in touch, mistake 5th, staying on one pace when blundered last and soon weakened
towards rear, weakened approaching 4 out
held up, headway approaching 3 out, every chance last, hard ridden flat, just held near finish
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, reminders after 9th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, mistake 10th, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, hit 4th, headway approaching 4 out, staying one same pace when blundered last
chased leaders, took closer order 4 out, ridden and jumped right when weakening 2 out
led, headed 4 out, soon weakened
always towards rear
THE VICAR likes it here and can confirm that theory with another win at the track, while Kia Kaha and Shining Gale can make him earn it. The last-named is set to shoulder topweight after a decent season as a novice, when he won three times. He handles soft ground, though is unproven on heavy, but he looks capable of a bold showing. Kia Kaha is also unproven on anything slower than good to soft, and he was outclassed in the Jewson in March. He should certainly stay this far and can get competitive. One who will relish conditions is Morgan Be. Kate Walton's runners are going well and this thorough stayer should be thereabouts if able to answer the most serious question that the handicapper has asked of him yet. Turpin Green was good enough to finish third to Kauto Star in the 2007 Gold Cup, so stamina is not an issue, nor is heavy ground, and he clearly has a touch of class that Sue Smith may have been able to tap into on his first start for the trainer. Even so, we will side with The Vicar. Hen Knight has booked Ruby Walsh to do the job today, and the Bob Back gelding scored here over 2m 4f earlier in the year. He loves the mud and is unexposed over this far, and we will pray for another win today.
Shining Gale (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, not fluent 9th, stayed on under pressure from 3 out, kept on well flat, took 3rd near finish, 3rd of 16, 7l behind The Last Derby (10-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Turpin Green (IRE) 28-1 (11-5) With leader, blundered 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, last of 6, 21l behind Kasbah Bliss (11-13) at Haydock 3m 1f hdl G2 (1) sft in Feb.
Brooklyn Brownie (IRE) 17-2 (11-12) Always towards rear, tailed off when pulled up after 11th, in a race won by Backstage (10-5) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in May, 13 ran.
Kia Kaha 15-2fav (11-1) In touch, mistake 10th, ridden after 13th, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 20, 38l behind Chapoturgeon (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Buck The Legend (IRE) 13-8 (11-8) Chased winner, challenging when fell heavily 3 out, in a race won by Seymour Weld (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f nov stks (2) gd in Apr, 5 ran.
Simon 14-1 (11-8) Prominent, weakened after 11th, pulled up before 15th, in a race won by Lysander (9-13) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
The Vicar (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, went right 1st, mistake 3rd, lost place from 8th, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Chapoturgeon (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov Listed hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar, 20 ran.
Morgan Be 14-1 (11-3) Held up, steady headway 5 out, led on bit 3 out, ridden and 2 lengths clear last, hung left under pressure last, headed and no extra near finish, 2nd of 13, 1/2l behind Merigo (11-1) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
Appleaday (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up, blundered 4th, hampered 12th, headway next, with winner 5 out, weakening when blundered 3 out, 5th of 9, 48l behind Never So Blue (10-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy.
Daldini 16-1 (10-13) Led, blundered and unseated rider 12th, in a race won by Never So Blue (10-11) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy, 9 ran.
Malko de Beaumont (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up mid-division, chased leaders approaching 4 out, soon ridden, no impression from next, last of 11, 46l behind Newman Des Plages (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
