took keen hold, held up in 5th, pecked 6th, blundered and unseated rider next
made all, not always fluent, about 2 lengths ahead when left clear and not fluent last 3
chased winner until ridden and dropped to 3rd on long run to 3 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off
hit 1st and next, chased leading pair, lost 3rd at 9th, regained 3rd when left 2nd 3 out, kept on same pace flat
tracked leading trio, not fluent 8th, went 3rd next, went 2nd on long run to 3 out, ridden to close and about 2 lengths down but ridden when fell 3 out
held up in rear, left poor 5th at 7th, left distant 4th 3 out, tailed off
Nonrunner
Goat Castle made the frame in six of his 12 starts over hurdles and has obvious claims in this low-grade handicap if taking to fences. Roc De Guye escapes a penalty for his win in a conditionals' handicap at Fakenham last week but the hot favourite in that race departed at the first fence and his only other market rival ran with the choke out. This is tougher with the luckless Al Amaan now sporting blinkers and BANKSTAIR showing a bit more last time. He had Al Amaan behind at Fontwell and can end his barren spell on his first start for Tim Vaughan.
Al Amaan 2-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, not always fluent, switched right approaching 7th, closed from 2 out, mistake last, went 2nd flat, stayed on, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Coach Lane (11-6) at Warwick 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Bankstair (FR) 9-2 (11-10) Disputed lead, led narrowly 6th, hit 4 out, headed next, soon driven and no extra in 3rd between last 2, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Olympian Boy (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Oct.
Goat Castle (IRE) 9-2fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led after 3 out, headed last, stayed on, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Classical Mist (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Oct.
Rosoff (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, effort 2 out, soon one pace, 6th of 12, 8l behind Manshoor (11-3) at Lingfield 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Chestnut Ben (IRE) 9-4fav (10-6) In touch, mistake 3rd, went right 6th, headway to 3rd approaching 9th, challenged and slow 4 out, went 2nd before next, led approaching last, hard ridden and edged right flat, no extra and headed close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind Ede's (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) hvy.
Royaume Bleu (FR) 5-1 (10-2) Held up, took keen hold, mistake 5th, 6th when fell 4 out, in a race won by Noble Witness (11-9) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd, 8 ran.
Roc De Guye (FR) 11-4 (11-4) Slowly away, keen in rear early, headway 7th, led between 3 out and 2 out, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gd beating Finnegans Rainbow (9-11) by 8l, 6 ran.
Knock Boy (IRE) 15-8fav (10-0) Held up behind leaders, went 2nd after 3 out until before last, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 9l behind Noble Witness (11-9) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd.
