held up, hit 9th and slipped soon after, ridden to go 3rd approaching 2 out, ran on strongly flat, led final 75 yards
tracked leaders, joined leader after 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, hit last and headed, no extra
led, ridden and narrowly headed 2 out, rallied gamely to lead soon after last, headed and no extra final 75 yards
chased leaders, hit 10th, weakened next
chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
not jump well, mistake 1st, blundered 9th, always well behind
Nonrunner
A small field on account of the prevailing faster ground and Crossbow Creek is nominated ahead of Andreas and Bleu Superbe. The form of Mark Rimell's yard last season should be ignored as the yard suffered with the virus but Crossbow Creek is a likeable enough individual, handles fast ground and has a positive jockey booking with Richard Johnson in the plate. Andreas hails from a yard that are in form. His better performances have obtained on a slower surface and there could be an argument that the handicapper has taken no chances with the allocation of a mark of 144. Bleu Superbe is difficult to catch right but he likes a flat track and it is of some encouragement that Venetia Williams had a winner the other day. The 11-year-old is likely to front run here. Demi Beau's recent form has been nothing to write home about and having never won first time out on seasonal appearance, others are preferred. Briscoe Place unseated Mick Fitzgerald in a very weak summer chase and is best watched here. Palua is another who should like this flat track while Stance is in receipt of plenty of weight from the likely market principals. A small but competitive field in which Crossbow Creek is taken to score.
Crossbow Creek 13-2 (11-10) Always travelling well, held up towards rear, smooth headway from 8th, led on bit approaching 2 out, soon clear, easily, won at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd beating Cossack Dancer (10-4) by 5l, 11 ran.
Andreas (FR) 7-2fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, ridden 3 out, one pace from next, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Jacks Craic (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Demi Beau 20-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, blundered 3rd, lost place from 5th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Jacks Craic (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Palua 25-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, hit 7th and 9th, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 4th of 11, 14l behind Crossbow Creek (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd.
Briscoe Place (IRE) 4-9fav (11-8) Led until blundered and unseated rider 5th unseated rider at the 5th in race won by Salhood (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in Aug, 5 ran.
Stance 25-1 (10-6) Jumped poorly in rear, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Reveillez (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (1) gd in Mar, 18 ran.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 6-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 7th, ridden approaching 2 out, driven and kept on under pressure run-in, won at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr beating Escompteur (10-4) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
