made most, mistake 8th, headed 5 out, weakened approaching next
chased leaders, led 5 out, headed approaching 4 out, kept on same pace
with leader, ridden 5 out, weakened approaching 3 out, blundered badly last
held up in touch, ridden, weakened 5 out, blundered 2 out
held up in rear, outpaced 11th, went 3rd 3 out, no impression
tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, kept on well from last
Magot de Grugy has rather harshly gone up 6lbs for his narrow success on heavy ground at Lingfield two weeks ago but Robert Alner's gelding may still be good enough to follow up that success with the opposition here looking pretty moderate and the main threats looking to come from Cousin Nicky and Jimmy Tennis. The last mentioned showed some promise on his return at Ascot last month and has claims if improving for the run but the Venetia Williams-trained gelding is hard to back with confidence on his overall form. Elegant Clutter has given little sign for encouragement this term, while Wenger was well held at Ludlow recently and has yet to prove that he stays this far. Noble Bily has a nice racing weight but is clearly better over hurdles than fences and of more interest may be Cousin Nicky, who has had a couple of confidence boosters since falling at Ascot last month. This should not take much winning though and Magot de Grugy is taken to win again.
Cousin Nicky 8-1 (11-4) Held up, ridden and some progress 9th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 10, 20l behind Leading Authority (11-7) at Lingfield 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 10-3 (11-8) Mid-division, closer order 6th, ridden and headway after 10th, led last, all out, won at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) hvy beating Lescer's Lad (9-7) by 1l, 10 ran.
Jimmy Tennis (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, mistake 12th, driven after 3 out, weakened approaching next, 5th of 12, 14l behind Cruising River (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov.
Elegant Clutter (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) Held up, quickly pulled up at the 8th in race won by Killard Point (11-6) at Bangor 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft, 7 ran.
Wenger (FR) 15-2 (10-4) In touch, tracked leader 6th, soon lost place, tailed off 4 out, 7th of 10, well behind Vinmix De Bessy (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Noble Bily (FR) 7-1 (10-13) Mid-division, ridden after 10th, weakened 4 out, 5th of 11, 18l behind Obelix De Longechaux (11-9) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd.
