tracked winner, not fluent 8th, ridden 3 out, no impression from 2 out, stayed on
tracked leaders, mistake and hampered 1st, mistake next and 10th, no impression on front pair 12th, weakening when hit 4 out
chased leaders, jumped slowly 1st, hampered 10th, weakened from 12th, tailed off
held up in rear, mistake 10th, behind after next, tailed off
mistakes in rear, behind when pulled up before 9th
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 3rd, no impression 12th, soon weakened, tailed off
made all, mistake 3 out, driven out
Charlie Longsdon has sent a strong team here today and DAWN COMMANDER could be another winner for the yard. Already a winner between the flags, he won twice over timber last season but was always going to make a better chaser than hurdler and this looks a suitable starting point. Ackertac should have got his head in front before now and seems to do better in handicaps when getting weight from better rivals but the well-bred Lapin Garou is well worth a second look while Red Rock could do better for the switch to fences. Several of the others have winning form over hurdles including Marshal Zhukov, who had a hard race at Fontwell on Friday, but are probably best watched here.
Ackertac (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Held up mid-division, mistake 5th, ridden after 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by Saint Are (10-13) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Dawn Commander (GER) 1-3fav (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, clear next, eased towards finish, won at Market Rasen 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating All That Remains (11-2) by 7l, 7 ran.
Lapin Garou (FR) 5-1 (11-7) 3rd of 15, 7l behind Grandturgeon (11-7) at Woodford 3m ptp gs in Apr.
Red Rock (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, blundered 2nd, behind 5th, pulled up after next, in a race won by Changing The Guard (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Jul, 10 ran.
Velvet Vic (IRE) 9-2 (10-9) Held up in rear, headway under pressure after 4 out, chased leaders next, ridden and kept on same pace flat, no impression with leading trio, 4th of 11, 7l behind Oh Right (9-10) at Cartmel 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun.
Westlin' Winds (IRE) 85-40fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 5th, led approaching 3 out where not fluent, soon ridden, headed before last, left in lead at hurdle, soon left clear, won at Uttoxeter 2m cnd/am sll hdl (5) gs in Jun beating Gud Day (10-6) by 8l, 6 ran.
Valmari (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Chased leader, hit 6th, ridden and weakened after 2 out, last of 9, 42l behind Marchand D'argent (10-8) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs in May.
Marshal Zhukov (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Tracked leading trio, travelling well after 3 out, led before next, soon clear, driven right out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr beating Warsaw Pact (10-7) by 14l, 8 ran.
