held up, some headway into 6th, still well adrift when fell 9th
held up, headway 8th, led 4 out, came clear from 3 out, eased flat
took keen hold tracking leaders, weakening when mistake 4 out, 4th and tired when blundered 3 out, pulled up
chased leaders, led 6th, blundered 8th, headed 4 out, no chance with winner from 3 out, weakened and lost 2nd flat
held up, stayed on from 3 out, took 3rd near finish
chased leader, led 5th to 6th, remained prominent, mistake 4 out, close 3rd when mistake 3 out, weakened after 2 out
held up, headway 3rd, jumped left 4th, behind from 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
led to 5th, prominent until weakened after 10th
mid-division, hit 2nd, lost place 5th, stayed on from 2 out, took 2nd flat, no chance with winner
Dan's Man, Herecomestanley and TheNameescapesme are the three that make the shortlist in this trappy affair, and Dan's Man can lead them home. Thenameescapesme has been running respectably in handicap hurdles and it could well be he will come into his own now he takes on the bigger obstacles. He hails from a yard in form and despite his inexperience he can go well. Herecomestanley has had difficulty negotiating fences recently but his last two efforts have been encouraging, backed to score at Fakenham last time and doing so decisively. He carries a penalty here but will run well. Dan's Man represents the bang in form Nigel Twiston-Davies camp and he comes here on the back of a winning chasing debut at Bangor where he won showing a good turn of foot. He receives weight from Herecomestanley and that could be crucial on the testing ground. Dan's Man can become everyone's favourite.
Thenameescapesme 16-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 3rd, stayed on well from last, 4th of 13, 14l behind Dorneys Well (10-10) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Apr.
Herecomestanley 3-1fav (11-5) Held up, mistake 6th, headway 8th, chased leader 9th, led soon after 2 out, ran on, easily, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd beating Miss Wizadora (10-9) by a distance, 9 ran.
Dan's Man 2-1fav (10-6) Led to 1st, led again 5th to 8th, led again 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, not fluent last, ran on, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs beating Jarro (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Predestine (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 4th, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by In Accord (11-7) at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr, 18 ran.
Thats More Like It (IRE) 14-1 (11-5) Rear of mid-division, moderate 12th from 5 out, kept on without threatening from before next, 6th of 14, 30l behind The Fingersmith (11-12) at Sligo 2m nov hdl sft in Apr.
Reflex Blue 20-1 (9-11) Soon well behind, 7th of 15, well behind Notanotherdonkey (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
Alpha Image (IRE) 11-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, ridden after 7th, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 7, 23l behind Mr Bigglesworth (11-9) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gs in Apr '05.
Sandy Gold (IRE) 5-1 (10-10) Held up, always behind, 5th of 8, 40l behind Midnight Gunner (11-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft.
