tracked leaders, hampered 9th, pulled up before 11th
held up, left 2nd at 9th, led after 4 out, soon clear
held up, struggling from 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, mistake 12th, poor 3rd when hit 4 out
tracked leader, led approaching 8th, blundered badly 4 out, soon headed, no chance with winner
led, headed approaching 8th, unseated 9th
This could be a Jonjo O'Neill one-two, with Butler's cabin taken to lead home Steppes Of Gold and Hollows Mill. Butler's Cabin failed to win during his bumper and hurdles campaigns but has quickly made his mark as a chaser, bolting up at Hereford on just his second start over the bigger obstacles. It is debatable just what he beat six days ago, but that clear-cut success can only have boosted his confidence, and he is taken to defy a 7lb penalty. Steppes Of Gold was much the smarter of the pair over timber, and is vastly more experienced over fences, but he has been hard to win with, and first-time blinkers failed to do the trick at Bangor recently. His claimer Johnny Farrelly can take 10lb off his back here though, so he should again be there or thereabouts. Hollows Mill has looked a bit one-paced this season so may appreciate the slight step up in trip, but is otherwise hard to fancy. Neptune Joly had winning chase form in France but has shown little in three starts on these shores and returns from a break, so for the winner we return to Butler's Cabin.
Steppes of Gold (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, went 2nd 11th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 5, 15l behind Knowhere (11-6) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs.
Butler's Cabin (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 9th, ridden 2 out, led soon after and clear, ran on, won at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf beating Jarro (11-9) by 7l, 10 ran.
Neptune Joly (FR) 12-1 (11-9) In touch, led 3rd, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 10, 8l behind Clouding Over (11-8) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (3) gf in Apr.
Hollows Mill 3-1fav (10-3) Held up, chased leaders 4th, ridden and outpaced 3 out, soon no impression, 3rd of 7, 27l behind Figaro du Rocher (11-11) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft.
Lusaka De Pembo (FR) 7-1 (11-11) Prominent, ridden 4 out, 3rd and 9 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider 3 out in race won by Bearaway (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in May, 10 ran.
Lonesome Man (IRE) 20-1 (11-10) Led to 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, mistake 2 out, last of 5, 24l behind Lascar de Ferbet (10-6) at Worcester 2m cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
