held up towards rear, pushed along approaching 8th, quickly lost place, tailed off when soon pulled up after
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
led, soon clear until 9th, headed approaching 6 out, soon lost place, pulled up before 2 out
held up in touch in 4th, not fluent 6th, went 3rd approaching 2 out, chased winner approaching last, no impression
tracked clear leader, ridden after 4 out, weakeneing when hit next
held up behind, blundered 7th,outpaced from 4 out, kept on from next, took 3rd flat
tracked leaders, blundered 8th, went 2nd from 5 out, led approaching last, soon clear
held up in touch, headway approaching 8th, led approaching 6 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened, lost 3rd flat
ALRIGHT NOW M'LAD may be the one to be with here and is preferred to Pangbourne and Border Fusion. The selection represents a combination that does well in this sphere and he ran well enough at Wetherby when chasing home the useful Robbers Glen. He had some decent yardsticks behind him that day too and may be able to go one better. It will be interesting to see how Pangbourne has coped with a change of scenery as he has plenty of talent but was often recalcitrant. The conditions should suit him ideally and he could take the beating if on a going day. Border Fusion failed to fire in the Foxhunter at Cheltenham but he should be a live player at this level although he could only finish third under similar conditions twelve months ago. Ardnaclancy has done well between the flags and he needs a market check ahead of his debut over regulation fences whilst Vicario was impressive at Bangor and should go well again but preference is for Alright Now M'Lad.
Alright Now M'Lad (IRE) 6-1 (12-4) Held up in touch, not much room after 9th, ridden, outpaced 4 out, rallied to go 2nd after 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 11l behind Robbers Glen (12-4) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft.
Border Fusion 10-1 (12-0) Held up, mistake 10th, headway 15th, ridden 2 out when close up, weakened approaching last, 5th of 14, 9l behind Southwestern (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd in May.
Pangbourne (FR) 7-4 (11-4) Led until mistake and unseated rider 5 out, in a race won by Russian Around (11-4) at Chepstow 3m 2f nov stks (3) gd in Apr, 3 ran.
Vicario 12-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, went 2nd bypassing omitted 4 out, led before 2 out, stayed on well flat, drew clear towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 4f hts chs (6) sft beating Unowatimeen (12-4) by 5l, 9 ran.
Oopsmylord (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Led until after 1st, prominent, hampered by loose horse after next, led 5th until approaching 7th, reminder after 11th, led before next, headed 15th, mistake 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Bob Hall (12-4) at Ludlow 3m hts chs (5) gd.
Ardnaclancy (IRE) 2-5 (12-0) 2nd of 7, 1l behind Reiver's Fort (12-4) at Hexham 3m ptp gd in May.
Cowboyboots (IRE) 15-8 (12-0) Made virt all; lft clr 2 out; easy, won at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp sft beating Minella Tipperary (12-0) by 10l, 9 ran.
Penny Doc (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Ap; chsd wnr 8; drvn & outpcd 3 out, 2nd of 7, 15l behind Reach For The Top (12-0) at Detling 3m ptp gd.
