led until 2nd, prominent, led 5th until next, led again 10th until 12th, driven to lead again 14th, headed 16th, mistake 4 out, led again approaching 2 out, joined and hit last, stayed on gamely
chased leaders, 2nd after 2nd, led 4th until next, led again 12th, blundered and headed 14th, chased winner, led again 16th, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, ridden and weakened flat
held up in touch, 3rd after 8th, went prominent 12th, blundered 13th, pushed along before next, pushed along in 4th and outpaced before 2 out, rallied on inside into 2nd flat, stayed on near finish, just held
held up in rear, smooth headway approaching 14th, went 2nd 2 out, chance last, hung right and lost 2nd flat, weakened into 4th final 100 yards
prominent, led 2nd until 4th, chased leaders until after 8th, lost place 13th, weakened before next, tailed off
tracked leaders, blundered 6th, reminders and outpaced before 14th, rallied under pressure approaching last, went 3rd final 100 yards
Those who supported HIGH ASPIRATIONS (NAP) at Ffos Las will be wanting compensation after a very unlucky defeat. He'd shown little over hurdles but is obviously a better chaser as he was full of running when falling at the last. The veteran Somerby jumps and stays well and this is his sort of level these days but The Last Bridge hasn't quite been able to shake off a 9lb rise for his victory at Taunton in March. Cheat The Cheater did a bit better at Plumpton but needs very heavy ground while Chac Du Cadran, who had once looked promising, ran so poorly last season that it's difficult to support him. Monty's Revenge hasn't won for almost two years but very nearly did so at Towcester a fortnight ago when caught close home by Le Grand Chene. A repeat of that would see him go close.
Chac Du Cadran (FR) 6-1 (11-5) Chased leader, led narrrowly 6th until after next, chased leader until driven along before 8th, soon lost place, tailed off 13th, behind and pulled up soon after, in a race won by Master Neo (11-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Monty's Revenge (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, not fluent 8th, led 9th, joined last, edged left flat, headed close home, 2nd of 9, nk behind Le Grand Chene (11-3) at Towcester 2m 6f hcp 0-100 (5) gd.
The Last Bridge 5-2fav (10-13) Tracked leader, weakened before 4 out, eased before 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Dais Return (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in May, 14 ran.
High Aspirations (IRE) 11-4fav (10-5) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, 2nd from 7th, led 9th until after 13th, led again approaching 4 out, going strongly when fell 2 out, in a race won by Trillerin Minella (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Oct, 7 ran.
Somerby (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway 11th, went 2nd after 6 out, ridden before 4 out, led last, headed last 50 yards, no extra, 2nd of 9, 6l behind Tuskar Rock (10-11) at Chepstow 3m am hcp chs 0-100 (5) sft in Oct.
Cheat The Cheater (IRE) 13-8 (9-13) With leader led 5 out, headed 2 out, kept on and held by winner, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Tothemoonandback (11-12) at Plumpton 3m 2f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy.
