held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders before 4 out, led before 3 out, blundered 2 out, eased heavily towards finish
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
held up behind, unseated rider 11th
close up, blundered 1st, led before 6th, headed 9th, weakened before 2 out
always towards rear, weakened before 4 out
chased leaders, blundered 2nd, pushed along and weakened from 4 out
held up towards rear, pushed along after 13th, headway before 3 out, went 3rd from 2 out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, took keenn hold, unseated rider 6th
held up towards rear and keen, headway and pecked 4 out, weakened before next, unseated rider 2 out
led, headed before 6th led 9th, headed before 3 out, held when blundered last, no chance with winner
Hollow Penny unseated Richard Johnson on his hat-trick bid at Fontwell but was still going well at the time and is a couple of pounds lower. Johnson rides the returning Al Alfa here for retainer Philip Hobbs and he can't be ruled out. Daymar Bay will strip fitter for his run behind Notarfbad at Newton Abbot and Hollow Blue Sky was well backed on his reappearance at Perth last month. Easily Pleased should be thereabouts again off a low weight but Skint has become hard to predict and Greywell Boy doesn't win as often as he should. WIFFY CHATSBY was an impressive winner on his chasing bow at Worcester in June last year. Fitness is unlikely to be an issue and form lines suggest Paul Nicholls' seven-year-old is nicely treated.
Hollow Penny 9-4fav (10-13) Held up in touch, blundered badly and unseated rider 5 out, in a race won by Workbench (10-6) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd, 6 ran.
Daymar Bay (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, effort on outside after 4 out, no impression, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 9, 19l behind Notarfbad (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Aug.
Wiffy Chatsby (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Took keen hold, held up in touch in mid-division, headway 9th, went 2nd when mistake 4 out, soon switched right, challenging when left in lead 2 out, ridden clear from last, ran on well, won at Worcester 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Jun '13 beating Special Account (10-12) by 9l, 7 ran.
Al Alfa 5-1 (11-6) Led to 8th, tracked leader, ridden 2 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 10, 2l behind Hector's Choice (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
Skint 11-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, evry chance 2 out, weakened run-in, 6th of 7, 18l behind Exitas (10-13) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Sep.
Greywell Boy 5-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, ridden after 11th, weakened approaching next, 6th of 8, 34l behind Pepite Rose (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Mar.
Hollow Blue Sky (FR) 13-8fav (10-13) Tracked leaders in 4th, blundered 8th, soon lost place, headway before 5 out, one pace in 3rd when mistake last, 3rd of 6, 12l behind Raajih (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Sep.
Dark Energy 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, unseated 4th,, in a race won by What A Warrior (11-7) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 10 ran.
Easily Pleased (IRE) 5-2fav (11-10) Held up in rear, headway 9th, shaken up to chase winner before 2 out, ridden before last, unable to close, 2nd of 6, 4l behind Bullet Street (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Aug.
Bertie's Desire 5-4fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Morestead (10-0) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in May.
