tracked leaders, slow and reminder 2nd, reminder after 6th, lost place before 8th, soon weakened
mid-division, jumped left 1st, lost place before 8th, soon behind
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, weakened after next
held up towards rear, headway 8th, tracked leaders going well after 2 out, challenged last, led and held together flat, nudged along and went clear towards finish, readily
took keen hold, held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, weakened approaching 8th, well behind when fell 9th
led after 1st, headed approaching last, no extra in 3rd final 100 yards
led until after 1st, prominent, reminder before 8th, weakened after 4 out, not fluent 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 1st or 2nd, headway 4 out, led before last, headed flat, stayed on same pace
prominent, reminder after 7th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened flat
Jonjo O'Neill's pair Holywell and Shutthefrontdoor are better known as chasers and Kruzhlinin hasn't run over hurdles since the start of last year. But David Pipe's two runners - Unanimite and Ennistown – are both recent winners over the smaller obstacles and Young Dillon has enjoyed a successful summer campaign. The Tourard Man and Goodbye Dancer look in the handicapper's grip at present, however. CAID DU BERLAIS was having his first run since April of last year when finishing in mid-division at Chepstow last month but he ran better than his final placing suggests. He's been dropped 3lb since and is now a lower mark than when placed at Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring of 2014.
Holywell (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Mistake 1st, mid-division when fell 2nd, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Shutthefrontdoor (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, weakened from next, 9th of 39, dist behind Rule The World (10-7) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
The Tourard Man (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden and weakened after 2 out, 12th of 14, 33 1/2l behind Golden Doyen (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Caid Du Berlais (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Towards rear, headway 3 out, soon outpaced, ridden after next, never on terms, 8th of 14, 12 1/2l behind Ballyoptic (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Ennistown 20-1 (9-7) Towards rear, pushed along and struggling in rear when badly hampered 6f out, no chance after, behind and eased final 2f, 22nd of 33, 37 1/2l behind Sweet Selection (8-8) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Kruzhlinin (GER) 17-2 (11-9) Tracked leaders, blundered and lost place 6th, not recover, pulled up after next, at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Unanimite (FR) 11-8fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led 8th (usual 9th), drew clear on bit bypassing omitted 2 out, unchallanged after, canter (2 flights omitted), won at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Royal Battalion (10-10) by dist, 4 ran.
Goodbye Dancer (FR) 10-1 (11-3) Took keen hold, held up in last trio, went right 1st and next, ridden and struggling when mistake 2 out, 8th of 10, 37l behind The Romford Pele (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Young Dillon (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Held up, in mid-division, in touch form 4th, not fluent 6th, ridden and hanging left after 3 out, hampered on bend after next, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 7, 5 3/4l behind Wholestone (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m (3) gd in Oct.
