tracked leader, led 8th, headed after next, gradually weakened
tracked leaders, joined leader 9th, led next, clear 2 out, ran on strongly
behind, headway 5th, chased leaders 3 out, soon one pace
led, took keen hold, headed approaching 8th, weakened 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before next
held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, ridden to challenge when blundered and unseated rider next
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, jumped slowly 5th, soon detatched, pulled up before 3 out
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
It should pay to stick with the higher rated horses in this event and preference is just giving to SOU'WESTER ahead of King Brex and Kervriou. Gary Moore is in fine form over the jumps saddling two winners in recent weeks. He is a genuine good ground horse and conditions should prove to be ideal for Philip Hide's mount. The handicapper has given him a chance and he should go close on a track his won at before. The biggest danger may come from Kervriou who has a similar level of form then that of the selection. He was competitive off this sort of mark last year and really seems to enjoy summer ground. He has a 330 day absence to overcome but if he is fit and well he could take this event. King Brex is the form horse but he has never shown anything on quick ground and is passed over. Chilbury Hill will try and follow up his latest success but this is a tougher race.
King Brex (DEN) 5-2 (11-12) Led, mistake 6th, headed 8th, driven to challenge 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 4, 24l behind Alesandro Mantegna (11-3) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Sou'wester 2-1 (11-12) Took keen hold, held up behind leaders, mistake 3rd, closed 11th, not fluent next, outpaced after 13th, stayed on approaching last to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 7l behind The Snail (11-6) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
Kervriou (FR) 25-1 (10-9) Held up in rear, raced keenly, not fluent 1st or 3rd, headway 3 out, outpaced after 2 out, closed again before last, no impression on leaders, 5th of 12, 7l behind Lord Jay Jay (11-11) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Bollitree Bob 9-1 (11-10) Keen tracked leaders, ridden 4 out soon weakened, 7th of 11, well behind Folie A Deux (10-11) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Mar.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, not fluent 8th, jumped left 3 out, led soon after next, ran on well, won at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar beating Quick Fix (11-12) by 5l, 5 ran.
Only Dreams (IRE) 14-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway 8th, ridden after next, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Chaninbar (11-9) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Tempting Paradise (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 3rd approaching 5th, chased winner from 7th until after 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 11l behind Chapel Flowers (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Meneur (FR) 25-1 (11-9) Pulled hard in touch, slow 4th, mistake 6th, headway 12th, weakened after 4 out, left in remote 4th at last, 4th of 7, 37l behind Power Shared (10-9) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
