held up mid-division, in rear from 6th, hit 8th, tailed off when pulled up before 6 out
made all, jumped right 3 out, not fluent next, ridden approaching last, kept on well
tracked winner, mistake 1st, ridden and weakened before 4 out, hit 3 out, pulled up before next
held up in rear, weakened after 5 out and tailed off, hit 3 out and last
tracked leaders, chased winner approaching 4 out, kept on, always held
held up behind, headway after 5 out, went 4th 4 out, no impression
in touch blundered 12th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
held up towards rear, headway 4th, soon tracked leaders, lost place approaching 12th, tailed off 6 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear and keen, headway 12th, went 3rd approaching 4 out, kept on same pace
Midnight Haze is worth a strong look having won at Wincanton when last seen before the summer and he could run well from a career-high chase mark. However, preference is for CHRYSANDER who is interesting despite not performing over fences for twenty months. He was previously rated 134 in chase company and Evan Williams clearly thinks this one who has had joint problems in the past is worth continuing with. After a decent reappearance over hurdles at Huntingdon, he should run well and he is given the tentative vote. Tisfreetdream isn't the cleanest jumper and pulled-up last time to raise doubts, whilst Prophete De Guye is in decent nick but is 8lb higher than his last winning mark. Tyup Pompey has only won four times from sixty starts but three of those wins came here. Although he knows the track inside out he is thoroughly opposable with such a mediocre strike-rate. Key Cutter has only had one try over the fences before so is entitled to improve this time, but the trip is a slight concern having weakened over three miles over timber at Bangor in March. Holmwood Legend has a good record over fences and has to be considered, but Rifleman looks too high in the weights.
Chrysander 11-2 (11-12) Led, not fluent 4th, ridden, leaning left and bumped into rival approaching 2 out, headed when not fluent last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Rebel Dancer (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Aug.
Midnight Haze 8-1 (11-12) Made all, driven out, won at Wincanton 3m 1f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Feb beating Dune Raider (10-7) by hd, 8 ran.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Pressed leader until jumped left and reminders 8th, weakening when hit 12th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Billie Magern (10-12) at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (4) gf in Jun, 9 ran.
Holmwood Legend 7-1 (11-3) Held up in touch, chased winner from 8th until not fluent 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 7, 24l behind Sir Ian (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Key Cutter (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Led to 2nd, chased winner, kept on no impression, 2nd of 8, 29l behind Golan Way (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Rifleman (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders and keen, bumped 4th, chased winner after 9th, not fluent 2 out, ridden approaching next, kept on and edged left flat, always held, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Presenting Forever (11-5) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct.
Ordre de Bataille (FR) 9-1 (11-9) In rear, reminders after 7th, tailing off 11th, pulled up after, in a race won by Minella Theatre (11-12) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct, 8 ran.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 13, 40l behind King Roonah (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Prophete de Guye (FR) 4-1fav (11-1) Held up, headway 7th, led after 12th, headed flat, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Ammunition (11-4) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
