in touch on inner, not fluent 9th, weakened next, tailed off 17th, pulled up before 3 out
led, headed 19th, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened after next
chased leaders on outer, weakened approaching 13th, tailed off 15th, pulled up before next
held up mid-division, mistake 13th, headway 18th, went 2nd 2 out, no impression from last
tracked leaders, reminders after 17th, not fluent 19th, weakened from 3 out
badly hampered 2nd, pulled before next
in touch, weakened 19th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up mid-division, weakened approaching 10th, pulled up before 12th
held up mid-division, pushed along approaching 9th, weakened from 12th, pulled up before 7th
held up towards rear, tired when jumped slow and unseated rider 3 out
fell 2nd
tracked leader, in 4th when blundered 18th, weakened next, blundered 4 out
held up behind, pushed along 7th, tailed off next, pulled up before 17th
held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 10th, weakened 12th, pulled up after 17th
prominent, led 19th, mistake 3 out, stayed on well from last
towards rear, tailed off when pulled up before 18th
mid-division on outer, ridden approaching 17th, headway approaching 4 out, plugged on from 3 out
Nonrunner
Chris Grant is represented by Star Player and Minster Shadow as he bids to complete a hat-trick in this race but his pair may come up short and the claims of BEAR WITNESS are preferred. The selection is relatively inexperienced under Rules but he also has half a dozen runs between the flags under his belt and there was plenty to like about his most recent outing. He was no match for the eventual winner who went on to land a Grade 2 chase next time out but pulled nicely clear of the third and looks feasibly treated on that evidence with the possibility of more to come over this trip. Star Player looks out of form and Minster Shadow may find that this ground is on the fast side and a bigger threat may be posed by Lydon House as trips of this nature appear to bring the best out of him but he was held in this race from a lower mark in 2008. Over The Creek enters calculations having made a welcome return to form as do Simply Smashing and Noble Bily but the pick is Bear Witness.
Minster Shadow 20-1 (10-8) Mid-division, went 2nd at 11th, led 3 out, kept on and headed near finish, 2nd of 16, 1/2l behind Himalayan Trail (11-7) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Over The Creek 8-1 (11-8) Made all, pressed throughout, hit 11th, stayed on gamely from 4 out, won at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd beating Dancing Mist (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Kells Castle 8-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden after 15th, weakened after 4 out, stumbled 2 out, 7th of 17, 28l behind Mister Apple's (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct.
Petite Margot 12-1 (10-5) Mid-division, lost place 13th, pushed along when hit next, soon beaten, 7th of 13, 33l behind Gentle Ranger (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Lydon House 9-2 (11-2) Always prominent, 3rd after 4 out, led before straight, ridden and strongly pressed from 2 out, headed before last, stayed on, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Rock Diplomat (11-5) at Fairyhouse 3m 1f hcp chs 0-116 hvy.
Bear Witness (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Soon led, headed 6th, remained prominent, kept on without troubling winner from before last, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Caim Hill (11-9) at Down Royal 3m beg chase gd in Mar.
Star Player (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) In touch, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mister Marker (10-6) at Newcastle 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar, 15 ran.
Shrewd Investor (IRE) 9-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, outpaced 14th, soon lost touch, went remote 3rd after 4 out, stayed on to press for 2nd, near finish, no chance with winner, 3rd of 6, 18l behind Himalayan Trail (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Royal Mackintosh 7-1 (11-5) Tracked leader, lost place 10th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Categorical (11-2) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Mar, 9 ran.
Noble Bily (FR) Evensfav (11-4) Held up last, good headway 15th to lead next, pressed 2 out, joined when not fluent and headed last, no extra and held flat, 2nd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Master Cobbler (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Blazing Diva (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Not fluent, in touch, hit 11th, lost ground on leaders 14th, mistake next, rallied 17th, held from 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Rosie All Over (10-6) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy.
Lavenoak Lad 7-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, pecked 12th, weakening when mistake 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 13, 48l behind Teeming Rain (10-10) at Exeter 3m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Simply Smashing (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, tracked leaders 3rd, led 20th, challenged 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Hexham 4m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar beating Reckless Venture (10-6) by 14l, 7 ran.
Sammy Spiderman 7-2 (11-6) Took keen hold in rear, not fluent 3rd, headway 11th, no impression from 4 out, mistake 2 out, 4th of 9, 18l behind Blazing Diva (10-8) at Newcastle 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) hvy in Feb.
Omix D'or (FR) 10-3 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led and blundered 15th, ridden out, won at Hereford 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar beating Tuskar Rock (11-10) by 5l, 4 ran.
Solway Bay 20-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, slightly hampered 6th, oupaced after 9th, no impression, 5th of 8, 23l behind Tillietudlem (10-12) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Panama At Once 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, challenged 13th, led approaching 4 out, clear before last, stayed on well, won at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd beating Benny The Piler (11-0) by 11l, 13 ran.
Seize 11-2 (10-3) Held up in rear, ridden to go 6th after 13th, soon struggling, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Leac An Scail (10-7) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd, 10 ran.
