made all, jumped well, ridden approaching last, stayed on well
tracked leader, took keen hold, ridden to challenge after 2 out, kept on well closing stages, never reached winner
tracked leader, under pressure before 2 out, soon weakened, lost 3rd towards finish, modest 4th
held up, in touch, bad mistake 5 out, soon pulled up
held up, in touch, weakened after 3 out, stayed on under pressure to go modest 3rd close home
NonRunner
A very interesting start to proceedings. Master Dee has won two of his six starts over fences but all of his runs have been over longer distances. Ballybolley is more exposed having run 10 times over the larger obstacles but this is his trip and he also has his favoured going. San Benedeto won at Sedgefield and Worcester at the start of the summer but never got involved on his reappearance in a better race at Newton Abbot. Thomas Crapper beat Fox Appeal at Newbury in April but has disappointed since and has a poor strike-rate. He was also well behind CRIMSON ARK over hurdles at Chepstow recently and Emma Lavelle's chasing debutant is the interesting one here. He's won a point-to-point so the switch to fences should suit and he's a potential blot of the handicap. Remind Me Later now has a bit to prove after another disappointing run when favourite at Plumpton.
Master Dee (IRE) 15-8fav (11-8) Made all, not fluent 1st or 2nd, mistake and went left 2 out, clear flat, stayed on, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) gf in Oct beating Pull The Chord (11-6) by 10l, 4 ran.
San Benedeto (FR) 13-2 (10-8) Not always fluent, always last, steady headway approaching 11th, pushed along and outpaced when not fluent 3 out (water) struggling and no chance after, last of 4, 33l behind Virgilio (10-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (2) gd in Oct.
Thomas Crapper 25-1 (10-2) Prominent, driven and lost place 3 out, weakened from next, 11th of 14, 34 3/4l behind Ballyoptic (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Crimson Ark (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, challenged before 3 out, ridden after next, every chance last, kept on, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Ballyoptic (11-3) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Remind Me Later (IRE) 10-11fav (11-7) Tracked winner, not much room on inside approaching 3 out, switched right to challenge before next, ridden and one pace before last, well held in 3rd flat, last of 3, 8 1/4l behind Mercers Court (11-8) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Ballybolley (IRE) Evensfav (11-11) Tracked leader, challenging when not fluent 4 out, mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, led narrowly flat, ridden out, won at Wetherby 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct beating Shear Rock (11-4) by nk, 4 ran.
