tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, left in lead next, ridden out
in rear, not fluent 8th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, headway when left 3rd at last, not trouble leaders
held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, left 4th at last
led and soon 4 lengths clear, reduced lead 6th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last when fell
close up, ridden 3 out, left 2nd at last, ridden and stayed on one pace
tracked leader, joined leader 2 out, ridden to lead approaching last when fell
Nuts Well won this in 2017 but was pulled up last year when Chesterfield finished a close-up third. Djingle has won his last two, including a Grade 3 at Roscommon, and comes here with every chance. Hell's Kitchen was very highly tried after beating Janika in a handicap at Ascot last December. He will appreciate this drop in grade and Louis' Vac Pouch had decent form as a novice and will have needed his run in a hurdle at Chepstow. MIDNIGHT SHADOW was surprisingly easy to back in a beginners’ chase here on his return to action considering he is a Grade 2 winner over hurdles. That outing will have taught him plenty and he has bags of scope - he is getting a lot of weight today owing to his novice status.
Hell's Kitchen 20-1 (11-12) In rear, some headway from before 4 out, soon moderate 5th and no impression, 5th of 6, dist behind Un De Sceaux (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding in Apr.
Louis' Vac Pouch (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, struggling before 3 out, kept on run-in, never near to challenge, 5th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Speed Company (10-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Nuts Well 3-1jfav (10-4) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 6th, weakened before last, 5th of 6, 18 1/2l behind Mcgroarty (11-0) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Djingle (FR) 4-5fav (11-1) Made all, slight mistake 2nd, still travelling smoothly straight, jumped slightly right and slight mistake 2 out, pushed along approaching last, stayed on best to assert run-in, won at Roscommon 2m (1) hvy in Sep beating Due Reward (11-1) by 4l, 6 ran.
Chesterfield (IRE) 66-1 (9-2) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders stayed on inside final furlong, no extra towards finish, 5th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Torcello (9-2) at Windsor 1m 3f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Midnight Shadow 9-1 (11-2) In touch, headway 4 out, effort in 3rd after next, soon one pace, 3rd of 5, 16 1/4l behind Brewin'upastorm (11-2) at Carlisle 2m (3) gs in Oct.
