tracked leading pair, driven 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, 4th and no impression before last
held up in touch, driven after 4 out, soon lost place and behind, tailed off
held up in last pair, headway 4 out, chased leaders in 4th when blundered next, no impression approaching 2 out
keen early, held up in last pair, steady before 3 out, 4th and ridden after next, chased leading pair last, stayed on flat
in touch on outside, headway 4 out, soon challenged, upsides when mistake 2 out, ridden to lead narrowly when mistake last, held on under pressure flat
disputed lead from 2nd, lost place after 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
Sheepclose got off the mark over fences with victory over 2m here last week. Both Tregaro and Le Grand Chene were tailed off on that occasion and the former is expected to go close again along with last month's Fontwell winner Catch The Rascal. Douglas arrives on the back of a couple of wins over timber though was well beaten in both previous starts over the larger obstacles and preference goes to THE BOSS. He's yet to land a chase but has gone close in better company than this on more than one occasion and can finally open his account.
The Boss (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Held up, hit 6th, headway 8th, went 3rd approaching 3 out, jumped left 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 9, 12l behind Tornade D'estruval (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Bilbo Boggart (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Chasing leaders when fell 6th, in a race won by Ballybough Gorta (10-1) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd, 13 ran.
Sheepclose (IRE) 11-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, led after 4 out, strongly challenged when not fluent 2 out, forged clear after last, ridden out, won at Southwell 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gd beating Otto Quercus (11-5) by 2 1/2l, 15 ran.
Douglas 12-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led after 7th, not fluent 2 out, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd beating Ironical (11-2) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Tregaro (FR) 7-1 (10-10) Behind, headway 4 out, rallied before 2 out, never dangerous, 7th of 15, 30l behind Sheepclose (10-1) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gd.
Le Grand Chene (FR) 6-1fav (10-5) Held up in rear, driven and headway approaching 9th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 15, 27l behind Sheepclose (10-1) at Southwell 2m hcp 0-100 (5) gd.
Simhal 200-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, lost place 11th, behind when pulled up 13th, in a race won by Shoegazer (11-12) at Southwell 3m nov chs (4) gd, 11 ran.
Catch The Rascal (IRE) 4-1 (10-11) Towards rear, pushed along before 5 out, went 4th from 3 out, went 3rd before last, one pace, 3rd of 10, 21l behind Venetian Lad (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Jun.
