tracked leaders, left 2nd before 4 out, soon ridden, kept on from next, not reach winner
led to 7th, led again after 9th, headed 11th, ridden to chase winner when pulled up lame before 4 out
tracked leader, led 7th to after 9th, led again 11th, pushed clear 4 out, ridden 2 out, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced after 5 out, no chance from next
Penthouse Minstrel looks the one to be with in this handicap chase with Cruise The Fairway and Helvetius put forward as the obvious dangers. The selection will be suited by the step-up in trip after running a little disappointingly at Chepstow last time. However, he had previously run well when second behind Barton May at Wincanton and a reproduction of that effort here would make him hard to beat. Cruise The Fairway was well-beaten last time but he did put in a clear round which was some achievement given the fact that he failed to do so on each of his previous four starts. If he jumps round here he will have a chance but as that is by no means guaranteed we are happy to oppose him. Helvetius is back over the bigger obstacles after a couple of runs over hurdles, and he could be capable of getting competitive. He had been running well in chases without getting his head in front, so it would be no surprise to see him go close although the suspicion is that he is slightly better over further. Count Oski usually runs his race without being quite good enough, and that may be the case again today, and for the winner we will stick with Penthouse Minstrel.
Penthouse Minstrel 10-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off from 5th, 8th of 11, 47l behind The Extra Man (11-6) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gs in Apr.
Cruise The Fairway (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Held up, bumped 2nd, headway approaching 11th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 20l behind Iverain (10-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
Helvetius 16-1 (11-2) Prominent, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 14, 6l behind Garnett (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 5f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gf.
Count Oski 14-1 (10-13) Behind, stayed on from 2 out, never dangerous, 8th of 14, 8l behind Garnett (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 5f amt hcp hdl 0-100 (F) gf.