held up, keen in 2nd place jumping the 3rd, upsides 5 out, led narrowly 4 out, clear 2 out, eased close home, easily
held up, dropped to last but close up 3rd, mistake 11th, ridden turning for home, lost ground 5 out, tailed off from 4 out
led, slight mistake 3rd, awkward 9th, headed 4 out, slight mistake 3 out, weakened from 2 out
NonRunner
NonRunner
Though this is his toughest task to date, no novice chaser has impressed as much as Longhouse Sale so far this season. He is a slick jumper of fences and gave weight and a beating to a subsequent winner over this trip at Uttoxeter last time, though stamina will be tested on this easier surface. FUSIL RAFFLES has more class and made a winning start over the larger obstacles at Uttoxeter. He will have to jump better here but that can almost be taken for granted. Fiddlerontheroof is a potentially high-class recruit to the chasing game having won a Grade 1 over hurdles in January while Grand Sancy’s confidence will have been booster by a win at Fontwell early in the year, though he is arguably better over 2m. Paint The Dream is 0-5 over fences but has twice finished second in decent company and is no slouch.
Grand Sancy (FR) 1-5fav (11-0) Mostly jumped well and clear most of way, hit 11th, pushed out run-in, unchallenged, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (3) sft in Feb beating Fox Pro (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 3 ran.
Longhouse Sale (IRE) 11-8fav (11-10) Led 2nd, soon headed, pressed leader, led narrowly and rider dropped whip 3 out, hung left after 2 out, all out, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (3) gd in Sep beating The Butcher Said (11-4) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Paint The Dream 66-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 7th, lost place 9th, mistake 11th, behind from next, mistake and hampered 2 out, 12th of 20, dist behind Imperial Aura (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Fiddlerontheroof (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) In touch on inside, driven and lost place after 2 out, weakened before last, 11th of 15, dist behind Shishkin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar.
Fusil Raffles (FR) 5-6fav (10-12) Hit 1st, soon tracked leaders in 4th, closer in 3rd 7th, pushed along and outpaced before 3 out, ridden and closer in 2nd next, led last, stayed on well run-in, won at Uttoxeter 2m (4) gd in Sep beating Quick Grabim (10-12) by 4l, 5 ran.
