held up in touch, took keen hold, not always fluent, headway before 10th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leader, challenged 9th, soon led, driven and headed just after last, led again flat, stayed on
led until after 9th, lost place from 11th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 11th, ridden before 4 out, not fluent 3 out, weakened from next
held up in touch, hit 4th, went 3rd when mistake 4 out, went 2nd after next, challenged last, soon led, headed flat, held close home
Alwaystheoptimist was handed a clear advantage over 2m here eight days ago when both of his nearest rivals fell. He may be worth opposing off a 6lb higher mark but River Purple has now won twice over the fences, though in a lower grade than this. Ballylifen is another course and distance winner but Lord Landen looks to be in the handicapper's grip now and Prince De Seuil has questions to answer at present. LEMON'S GENT won a shade cosily at Worcester earlier this month so may be capable of defying a 5lb higher mark as he has already won over further around here.
Alwaystheoptimist 6-1 (11-8) Not fluent 1st, headway 6th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden to lead narrowly when left clear next, kept on, unchallenged after, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd beating Manger Hanagment (10-11) by 16l, 8 ran.
Ballylifen (IRE) 10-3 (11-10) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, pulled up before 4th, in a race won by Book'em Danno (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd, 8 ran.
Prince du Seuil (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, led 1st, clear next, not fluent 11th, soon headed, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 7, 49l behind Ballylifen (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Lord Landen (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 8 out, mistake 7 out, went 3rd 4 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra run-in, 3rd of 9, 4 1/2l behind Lemon's Gent (11-9) at Worcester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf.
River Purple 6-4fav (11-12) Held up, mistake 10th, headway 4 out, challenged after 2 out, bumped before leading last, driven out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd beating Noble Witness (11-3) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Lemon's Gent 2-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway 6 out, led before last, kept on run-in, won at Worcester 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf beating Capisci (11-0) by 1l, 9 ran.
