held up in rear and keen, headway approaching 7th to chase leader, blundered 8th and soon dropped rear, slightly hampered 11th, weakened 13th, blundered 5 out, tailed off
tracked leaders in 4th, left 3rd 11th, disputed 2nd 4 out, one pace
tracked leaders in 3rd and keen, hit 5th, blundered and unseated rider 11th
held up in touch and keen, hampered and brought down 11th
tracked leader and keen, not fluent 10th, hit 3rd, ridden approaching 2 out, led after last, ridden and kept on well towards finish
led, not fluent 2 out, not fluent and pecked last, soon headed, ridden and kept on towards finish
An interesting novices' chase where there are a few with potential including New Shuil, whose recent Wetherby second entitles him to plenty of respect, and DOUBLE EXPRESSO. Howard Johnson's gelding was last seen at Aintree in April when he failed to complete in a Grade 1 novices' hurdle, but he had gone into that on the back of a 10-length Sedgefield win over this trip. He acts on good ground and is sure to be well prepared, while he also goes well fresh. Ferdy Murphy's Big Burrows has already won a chase over this trip on fast ground so conditions should hold no fears. However, that success was one beacon of light in a so-far disappointing chase career and he can be taken on, with stablemate Elzahann perhaps a better option on his chase debut.
Big Burrows (IRE) 11-1 (11-10) Held up in rear when blundered and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Just Smudge (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct, 9 ran.
Ballycolin 6-1 (12-0) Ch ldrs, 4th 1/2way, ridden along to ld 2out, ko strongly on run-in, won at Tattersalls Farm 3m ire ptp gd in Oct beating Gaspar (12-0) by 4l, 12 ran.
Double Expresso 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 8th, mistake next and 10th, soon well behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Wayward Prince (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Hegrid (IRE) 11-4 (11-12) Tracked leaders, left 4th at 5th, dropped to 6th 5 out, soon no extra, 7th of 15, 27l behind Taking Stock (11-12) at Listowel 2m 1f beg chs gd in Sep.
New Shuil (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 12th, going well when led approaching 3 out, ridden before last, pressed flat, headed last 50 yards, just held, 2nd of 8, nk behind Sweden (11-5) at Wetherby 3m 1f beg chs (5) gd in Oct.
Elzahann (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway and in touch 9th, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, 7th of 11, 47l behind Captain Americo (11-4) at Kelso 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd.
