tracked leaders, went 2nd before omitted 3 out, soon ridden, 3rd and one pace from omitted last
jumped right, held up in rear, headway approaching omitted 3 out, soon went 4th, no impression
jumped right in rear, lost touch after normal 4 out
took keen hold, tracked leader, led before omitted 2nd, ridden and headed after omitted last, not pace of winner
led, headed before omitted 2nd, tracked leader, ridden after normal 4 out, weakened from omitted 3 out
held up, jumped left 1st, not fluent normal 6th, behind before omitted 3 out
Nicky Henderson won this last year with a penalised runner so The Bottom Bar will likely be a warm order, though this is no straightforward task. The top weight failed to land the odds at Worcester after winning at Market Rasen in April and may prefer easier ground. Super Scorpion has won twice here over fences but the drop in distance might not suit and he hasn’t raced over hurdles since 2016. MONTANNA could be a useful acquisition for the Bowen yard given he was placed twice over 2m on the Flat. He is getting a decent weight-for-age allowance on his jumping debut and will have had plenty of schooling.
The Bottom Bar (IRE) 4-7fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, challenged after 3rd, led 8th, jumped right and bumped 3 out, driven and headed flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Orchard Thieves (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) sft in May.
Dollnamix (FR) 14-1 (11-3) Took keen hold in mid-division, pushed along chasing leaders 5f out, weakened over 2f out, 9th of 14, dist behind Captain Mcgarry (11-3) at Kempton 2m mdn (5) gd in Mar.
Musketeer 150-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, behind when blundered next, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Foxy Act (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gs in Jul.
Super Scorpion (IRE) 5-1jfav (11-9) Held up in rear, steady headway before 5 out, ridden to chase clear winner after 3 out until approaching last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 12, 6 1/2l behind Vice Et Vertu (11-6) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Montanna 6-1 (9-4) Tracked leaders, headway to track leader 3f out, driven to challenge 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on gamely and every chance in sustained duel from over 1f out, just held, 2nd of 10, hd behind Handiwork (9-11) at Doncaster 2m hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Persistantprincess (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Trckd ldrs; lft 2nd 13; led 2 out; comf, won at Trecoed 3m mdn gs in Jun beating Which Sky (11-7) by 10l, 10 ran.
Nowheretoexit 33-1 (10-7) Raced keenly, mid-division, outpaced 3f out, never on terms, 7th of 10, 15 3/4l behind Apres Le Deluge (11-0) at Hereford 2m (5) sft in Dec.
