led until 4th, remained prominent, weakened halfway, behind when pulled up after 5 out
in touch, weakened 5 out, blundered next, soon tailed off
in touch, headway 4 out, under pressure after next, soon weakened
in touch on outside, headway into 2nd halfway, effort 3 out, kept on same pace next
chased leaders, jumped left 1st, progress to lead before 4 out, challenged after next, stayed on well closing stages
held up, headway 4 out, every chance approaching 2 out, staying on same pace when mistake last
chased leaders, slow 6th, under pressure 3 out, weakening when jumped right last
in touch, when badly hampered 1st, soon in rear, reminders halfway, headway 3 out, stayed on well approaching last, never troubled leaders
jumped right 1st, prominent, led 4th, jumped right again 8th, headed before 4 out, weakening when mistake next
mid-division, weakened 5 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, never nearer
mid-division, jumped right throughout, weakened before 4 out, behind when pulled up after 2 out
TOP CHIEF came out on top last time after a real battle over course and distance and is taken to follow up. He jumped beautifully in the main and it would not surprise to see him have much of this field on the stretch if Tom Scudamore sets out to adopt similarly positive tactics on the former pointer. The consistency of Eric The Third should see him on the premises once again whilst the ex-Willie Mullins-trained Turban is down to what rates a feasible mark for Paul Henderson to exploit. Former pointer Bleu Et Or is a possible improver for Fergal O'Brien and the consistent if limited Irish Thistle has place claims from a mark to the foot of the handicap.
Gun Shy (IRE) 22-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, slow 3rd, not fluent 7th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before next, at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jun.
Turban (FR) 7-1 (11-12) Held up in last pair, headway on outside 13th, went 2nd 4 out, effort after 2 out, soon ridden, no extra in 4th flat, 4th of 7, 11 1/2l behind Irish Octave (11-10) at Warwick 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Bogoss Du Perret (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leader 3rd, led 8th, blundered 4 out and 3 out, headed before last, weakened, 6th of 11, 7 1/2l behind Auenwirbel (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jun.
Top Chief 7-2fav (10-10) Tracked leader, led 4th, ridden before last, hard pressed run-in, just held on close home, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jul beating As You Like (11-12) by hd, 11 ran.
Eric The Third (IRE) 7-4fav (11-10) Led until 7th, led again before last bend, soon headed and edged right, no impression on winner after, 2nd of 8, 13l behind My Renaissance (11-11) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Torhousemuir 4-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 4 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 7, 10 1/4l behind Brother Bennett (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 1f hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Bleu Et Or (FR) 6-4fav (11-0) Tracked leader and clear of rest, close up when blundered 8th, led after 10th, headed 2 out, no chance with clear pair before last, 3rd of 6, 16 3/4l behind Craigmor (12-0) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Bermeo (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Never better than mid-division, behind and struggling 13th, never threatened, tailed off, 6th of 13, dist behind Little Windmill (11-7) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gf in Aug.
Whos De Baby (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place before 13th, soon tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Damiens Dilemma (11-4) at Cartmel 3m 1f hcp (5) gf in Jun.
Eastern Lady (IND) 14-1 (10-0) Behind, headway before 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 11, 30 1/4l behind Top Chief (10-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Irish Thistle (IRE) 20-1 (10-2) Chased leaders on outside, led after 9th until 2 out, weakened into 3rd run-in, 3rd of 12, 16l behind Fit For Fifty (10-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Civitesses (FR) 12-1 (10-0) Held up last, jumped slowly 4th (water), left in modest 4th place 4 out, 4th of 6, 17 3/4l behind G'day Aussie (12-0) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (5) gs in Jul.
