held up, headway before 9th, ridden before 4 out, went 2nd after last, closed on winner on home bend, stayed on, unable to challenge
prominent, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
mid-division, not fluent 1st, jumped slowly 3rd, headway 7th, not fluent 9th, mistake 3 out, weakened last
led, headed before 4 out, led again last, clear after until home bend, held on well
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5th, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next
prominent, lost place 6th, ridden next, behind before 10th, tailed off
always in rear, behind 9th, tailed off
towards rear, mistake 4th, behind 9th, plugged on fro last, never any chance
chased leaders, ridden when hit 3 out, outpaced last, went 3rd and stayed on one pace on home bend, no impression on leaders
chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, led before 4 out, headed last, no extra before home bend
in rear, mistake 6th, pulled up before next
An attractive handicap featuring some progressive, in-form chasers, none more so than Presenting Junior. one of the success stories of the last jumps campaign when landing seven of ten starts and seeing his rating rise from 90 to 131. He now finds himself very much at the other end of the handicap and it might just be worth adopting a watching brief this time around as he now concedes weight to useful opposition. Sharp Rise has won both chases with comfort and must be included on any shortlist as there's almost certainly more to come even if he hasn't always looks the most straightforward. He'll be at his most dangerous if allowed to dictate from the front. The choice though is GLEN COUNTESS, raised 9lb for a smooth Haydock win this month on her first run for Sue Smith after an absence dating back to December 2013. A very useful chaser for Brendan Powell previously, the course and distance winner is taken to follow up in the hope she will not 'bounce.'
Presenting Junior (IRE) 7-1 (10-6) Held up, headway approaching 9th, chased leaders 12th, 2nd 3 out, led after 2 out, stayed on well, won at Ayr 2m 4f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr beating Firth Of The Clyde (11-3) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Sharp Rise (IRE) 5-6fav (11-10) Jumped slickly, made all, clear from 3 out, went left next, easily, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd beating Roseville Cottage (10-5) by 12l, 5 ran.
Rouge Et Blanc (FR) Evensfav (11-7) Towards rear, headway 8th, went 3rd 2 out, chased winner last, kept on and always held, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Owen Glendower (11-11) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hts chs (6) hvy.
Alderbrook Lad (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders, blundered 7th, weakened from 9th, tailed off, 10th of 13, 29l behind Anay Turge (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd.
Glen Countess (IRE) 7-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd at 9th, led after 5 out, drew clear on bit from 3 out, very easily, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs beating Habbie Simpson (11-4) by 7l, 5 ran.
Douglas Julian 8-1 (11-5) Led until 4th, lost place 9th, last next, behind 14th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Pinerolo (11-10) at Hexham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Authinger (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, outpaced before 3 out, kept on from 2 out, just held for 3rd place close home, 4th of 6, 24l behind Mister First (11-8) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Silmi 66-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th or 6th, well behind after 3 out, last of 8, well behind Letemgo (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Iona Days (IRE) 5-2fav (11-11) Tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 3rd, every chance briefly before 4 out, lost place 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 4th of 5, 43l behind Bearly Legal (11-5) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Cruchain (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) In rear, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on to go 2nd flat, no threat to winner, 2nd of 8, 8l behind Ice 'n' Easy (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr '14.
Redpender (IRE) 8-1 (11-1) In rear, blundered, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 7, well behind Houndscourt (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft.
