made all, shaken up approaching 3 out, 1/2 length up last, driven out
held up in 5th, not fluent 1st, headway 4th, weakened 3 out, mistake last, tailed off
took keen hold, chased leaders, not fluent and weakened 3 out, mistake last, tailed off
took keen hold, chased leaders, sometimes jumped left, last when not fluent 5th, went 3rd 3 out, soon weakened, not fluent 2 out, tailed off
tracked winner, driven after 3 out, 1/2 length down last, held flat
SHALLOW BAY was beaten less than a length by the more experienced Numen on his hurdling debut over C&D. Now 7lb better off, David Pipe's four-year-old must be fancied to turn the tables on Lucy Jones' charge, even though AP McCoy rides the hat-trick-seeking top weight again. Resplendent Light has won on the Flat at Chepstow and Windsor this year so can't be ignored but may have to settle for a place on his first start over timber.
Numen (IRE) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leader, led before 3rd, made rest, ridden and stayed on flat and always holding rival, won at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf beating Shallow Bay (10-12) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Bach On Tow (IRE) 100-1 (10-9) Always towards rear, lost touch 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by African Broadway (10-12) at Chepstow 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd, 11 ran.
Calypso Star (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Behind, lost touch halfway, tailed off when pulled up 3out, in a race won by World Heritage (10-12) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep, 12 ran.
Resplendent Light 17-2 (9-10) Chased leaders, effort on outside 3f out, chased leaders until weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 12l behind Grandad Mac (8-10) at Chepstow 1m 2f hcp 0-65 (6) sft in Sep (flat).
Shallow Bay 2-1 (10-12) In rear, headway 4th, ridden to chase winner 3 out, stayed on flat but always held by winner, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Numen (10-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
