with leader, led approaching 8th, clear from 3 out, ridden out
held up in rear, not fluent, mistake 7th, behind next, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway after 9th, went 3rd after 3 out, one pace flat
mid-division, hit 6th, headway after 9th, went 2nd approaching last, kept on well, unable to reach winner
held up, not fluent and weakened 9th, tailed off
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 8th, went 2nd when hit 3 out, 4th and beaten when blundered last
led until approaching 8th, not fluent and weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, bad mistake and lost place 5th, soon last, pulled up after 7th
prominent, went 2nd after 9th until 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out
in touch in mid-division, jumped big 1st, hampered 5th, not fluent 7th, not fluent and lost place 9th, rallied 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, jumped left first 2, some headway after 9th, weakened after 3 out
ABSOLUTE SHAMBLES is chasing a hat-trick after consecutive victories at Bangor and Newton Abbot. Chris Gordon's gelding is climbing the weights but can't be ignored in a race that won't take much winning and appears to have the beating of the disappointing Gallimaufry on recent form. Elegant Olive races off the same mark as when successful over C&D in January but that was on a softer surface and she's disappointed lately on good to firm. Zepnove has rarely looked like winning over hurdles or fences lately and the remainder are a modest bunch.
Absolute Shambles 8-1 (10-3) Slow 1st, tracked leaders, led before 10th, soon driven, clear before 2 out, eased near finish, won at Newton Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs beating Will If I Want (11-10) by 9l, 12 ran.
Father Figure (USA) 25-1 (10-7) Took keen hold, led 2nd, hit next, soon headed, stayed prominent, every chance 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 8, 47l behind Smokey Oakey (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f mdn hdl (4) gd in Jun.
Elegant Olive 50-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, weakened from 4 out, 9th of 18, 26l behind Surfboard (11-6) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gf.
Carmela Maria 40-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway after 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, 9th of 14, 41l behind Kristallo (10-9) at Southwell 3m clm hdl (5) gd.
Knock Boy (IRE) 9-2 (10-5) Mid-division, improved to chase winner 13th, ridden and not look resolute over 2 out, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 8, 9l behind King Cyrus (11-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May '09.
Pride of Mine 20-1 (10-1) In touch, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 18, 46l behind Dover's Hill (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hcp 0-115 (4) gd in Apr '09.
Zepnove (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Prominent, jumped left and not fluent 3rd, lost place quickly after 5th, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Henri Prends Garde (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf, 8 ran.
Gallimaufry 11-4fav (9-12) In touch, lost place after 6th, no danger after, 7th of 13, 25l behind Absolute Shambles (10-4) at Bangor 3m cnd hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jul.
Poppy Gregg 14-1 (10-13) Hampered 1st, behind, tailed off 8th, blundered next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Safe Investment (10-13) at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Jul, 12 ran.
Act Gold (GER) 33-1 (11-0) In rear, jumped right 3rd, mistake 7th, soon well behind, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Strong Soul (11-0) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (5) gd in Jul.
Commanche Dawn 9-1 (9-9) Tended to jump left, in rear, struggling 14th, plugged on, tailed off, 5th of 6, 39l behind Ilewin Tom (10-0) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Feb.
