prominent, challenged 7th until 12th, beaten 4 out
led 3rd, headed after 4 out, soon ridden, hampered, rider lost iron briefly and left 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, mistake 9th, blundered 12th, headway 15th, hampered when left disputing 2nd 2 out, weakened approaching last
in touch, led 3 out, left clear 2 out, stayed on well
led to 1st, remained prominent, hit 6th, weakened 4 out
chased leaders, blundered 14th, outpaced approaching 3 out, no impression after
mid-division, headway 11th, outpaced 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner
mid-division, hit 8th, lost place next, behind 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
prominent, challenged 12th, weakened approaching 2 out
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, no chance before 4 out
hampered 4th, hit 7th, always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up in rear, mistake 10th, blundered 14th, no chance when blundered and unseated rider 2 out
towards rear, hampered and fell 4th (water)
mid-division, not fluent 6th, ridden and struggling 12th, no impression after
held up towards rear, headway 10th, led after 4 out, blundered and headed 3 out, still 2nd when fell 2 out
Nonrunner
Mister Apples loves the track, whilst the race should suit the strong-stayers Notabotheronme and Out The Black, however it is last-year's winner HOOPY who can repeat the dose twelve months on. No Jason McKeown this year so the other jockeys' whips should be safe and it is the rising star of the Irish point-to-point scene, Jamie Codd, who takes the ride. He was seen to great effect on Character Building in the Kim Muir last March and although Hoopy may need some more driving, he looks a good jockey booking. The trainer Gordon Elliott has his horse exactly where he wants him after a prep run over hurdles and he expects him to defy his higher mark given the way he has strengthened up over the summer months. Top-weight Strawberry is a game mare but she looks high enough in the weights, whilst The Sawyer should give a bold sighter from the front and any rain won't hurt. Also likely to be near the pace is the progressive Freeze Up; this son of Presenting arguably wouldn't want too much rain given a 17lb rise in the weights for a Plumpton win last time but he remains of interest. As does My Lord Oscar who comes over from Ireland and is reunited with Nina Carberry, and along with the Tony Martin-trained Dream Champion and Hoopy, he is part of a strong Irish representation. Out The Black is more effective on quicker ground and looks high enough in the weights at the age of eleven, Razor Royale stopped quickly on his comeback but should come on for that and is a player over this trip over fences this year, whilst Never So Blue impressed in the mud at Haydock last time out but his effort here in the past before leaves lots to be desired. However having won at Sedgefield amongst other places before, it appears that undulating courses hold no fears. This is a big ride for young Jake Greenall on Rakalackey, whilst brother Olly rode Mister Apple's to victory last time out at the track and the pair are considered here despite an 8lb higher mark. The well-handicapped Alexanderthegreat and the French recruit Qhilimar also need considering, however in a cracking opener it is Hoopy who can prevail.
Strawberry (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Led 2nd until 4th, chased leaders, led 13th, blundered next, headed 4 out, regained lead 3 out, mistake last and soon headed, no extra flat, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Lyes Green (10-11) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
The Sawyer (BEL) 12-1 (10-12) Led and disputed, headed before 2 out, soon no impression, kept on same pace, 6th of 17, 16l behind Ambobo (10-13) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 sft in May.
Hoopy (IRE) 10-1 (10-7) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, ridden in 8th and no impression before 2 out, kept on one pace, 10th of 20, 40l behind Beroni (10-6) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens23 sft in Oct.
Razor Royale (IRE) 6-1 (10-6) Held up, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 9th of 15, 32l behind Valley Ride (9-10) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Radetsky March (IRE) 100-1 (11-11) Chased leaders until 8th, weakening when mistake 11th, tailed off and pulled up after 17th, in a race won by Tricky Trickster (11-11) at Cheltenham 4m amat chs (2) gs in Mar, 19 ran.
Never So Blue (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Held up mid-divison, headway 12th, led 5 out, not fluent 3 out, clear from next, won at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy beating Coe (11-12) by 10l, 9 ran.
Mister Apple's (FR) 9-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, challenged 2 out, soon led, stayed on well flat (no time taken), won at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in Oct beating Gaora Lane (11-6) by 3l, 17 ran.
Alexanderthegreat (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) In touch, reminders after 12th, ridden after 15th, soon beaten, 6th of 12, 38l behind Boychuk (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Freeze Up (IRE) 10-3fav (11-7) Led 2nd, made rest, clear 14th, well in command when hit 3 out, unchallenged, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar beating Strolling Vagabond (10-0) by 11l, 8 ran.
Verasi 33-1 (10-1) Held up, some headway 18th, weakened after 21st, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Hennessy (10-7) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
My Lord Oscar (IRE) 10-3 (11-8) Held up towards rear, headway into 4th 4 out, ridden in close 4th 2 out, led narrowly last, kept on well run-in, all out, won at Thurles 3m hcp chs 0-109 gd in Oct beating Major Decision (10-11) by shd, 16 ran.
Dream Champion 10-1 (11-12) Rear of mid-division, some progress into 8th when hampered 4 out, no impression straight, 7th of 15, 25l behind Coolcashin (11-12) at Thurles 2m 6f beg chs gd in Oct.
Silly Wupple 7-2fav (11-10) Tracked winner, led 6th to 9th, pressed winner, ridden to challenge and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind I'm Your Man (10-2) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Notabotheronme (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) In touch, ridden in 5th, beaten when pecked 2 out, 4th of 12, 8l behind Peut Etre Sivola (10-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Oct.
Qhilimar (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Towards rear, slightly hampered 1st, ridden approaching 11th, stayed on from 3 out but never dangerous, 5th of 13, 16l behind Gentle Ranger (11-11) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Out The Black (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Mid-division, under pressure 4 out, some late headway, never troubled leaders, 3rd of 10, 16l behind Toby Jug (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
Rakalackey 14-1 (11-9) With leader, lost place 5th, rallied and soon prominent after 9th, weakened before 3 out, 8th of 12, 25l behind De Soto (11-2) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Aug.
