led to 4th, reminders approaching next, disputing 3rd when fell 8th
held up towards rear and keen, in touch in 5th after 3rd, went 2nd at 6th, led approaching 4 out, jumped left next, headed flat, no exstra
held up in touch, hit 5th, soon lost place
held up towards rear, headway to go 3rd approaching 4 out, ridden after 2 out, switched left last, led flat, driven out
tracked leader, led 4th, blundered 7th, jumped right next, headed approaching 4 out, mistake and jumped left 2 out, jumped badly right last, soon weakened, lost 3rd place near finish
tracked leaders in 3rd, in 5th and one pace when hampered 5 out, kept on from next, went 3rd near finish
held up mid-division, weakened from 7th
held up in rear, weakened from 6th
This looks likely to be a competitive heat and given that none of the leading lights are proven on good to firm it might pay to tread carefully with HOLD FAST suggested. Howard Johnson's charge makes his debut over fences here and was good enough to defy a penalty in novices' hurdle company on good ground. He shaped then like a chaser and may prove up to the win. Tara Royal got rid of Tony McCoy at Bangor and so this Haydock chase winner has a bit to prove now back in trip. Saveiro won on soft at Hexham earlier in the month and this looks tougher in much quicker conditions and with a penalty. Divers should come on for his recent Towcester spin, but again has it to prove on ground this quick and if he fences well then a bigger danger may prove to be useful former hurdler Benny Be Good.
Saveiro (FR) 11-4 (11-3) Led, joined after 5th, headed briefly 7th, headed 3 out, led again before last, ridden and hard pressed flat, stayed on well towards finish, won at Hexham 2m beg chs (4) sft beating Twentynineblack (11-3) by 5l, 5 ran.
Tara Royal 7-4fav (11-8) Held up in 5th, not fluent 2nd, blundered and unsetaed rider 3rd, in a race won by Robinson Collonges (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd, 7 ran.
Benny Be Good 4-1 (11-12) Tracked winner, ridden after 2 out, no impression flat, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Tillietudlem (10-12) at Ayr 3m nov hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Divers (FR) 9-1 (11-3) In rear, headway after 3 out, went 4th 2 out, stayed on to take 3rd last, no impression on leaders flat, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Have You Seen Me (11-0) at Towcester 2m beg chs (4) gd.
Hold Fast (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Made all, driven last, stayed on well, readily, won at Kelso 2m 2f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar beating Gilbarry (11-0) by 3l, 12 ran.
Premier Sagas (FR) 7-2fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway under pressure 3 out, ridden to chase winner approaching 2 out until last, weakened flat, 7th of 13, 28l behind Stopped Out (11-1) at Kelso 2m 2f nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Terenzium (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, hit 11th, soon weakened, 11th of 13, well behind Alvarado (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs.
Seigneur Des Bois (FR) 16-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, some headway 5 out, weakened from next, 10th of 13, well behind Alvarado (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs.
