tracked leaders, ridden 10th, weakened 4 out, left poor 3rd last
mid-division, lost place and hit 5th, hampered 7th, soon hopelessly tailed off, continued
led, headed 2nd, mistake 4th, tracked leader from 5th until weakening 4 out
held up, mistake 8th (water), stayed on
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 4 out, weakened 3 out
in touch, mistake 4th, ridden and lost place 5th, behind when pulled up after 6th
in touch, ridden 10th, weakened 3 out
held up when fell 7th
held up, headway 9th, chased leader approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, fell last
held up, headway 6th, ridden 4 out, chased winner 3 out, kept on, just failed
led from 2nd, all out and held on towards finish
mid-division, weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden 7th, weakened 9th, soon behind
NYRCHE may be the answer to the finale with O'Toole and Kaldouas amongst those expected to acquit themselves creditably. The selection has made the frame in two similar contests this year over slightly longer trips but the drop in distance may enable him to open his account. Kaldouas has yet to shine for his new yard but these conditions could help to bring out the best of him and it's too early to rule him out of contention. O'Toole ran his best race for some time when second at Ludlow where he finished some thirteen lengths ahead of Nyrche. That form gives him obvious claims in this contest and he's a leading player. Van Ness may ideally prefer a stiffer test of stamina than this but he has been performing well since arriving from Ireland and warrants a place on the short-list but we'll take a chance with Nyrche.
Kaldouas (FR) 9-1 (12-3) Chased leaders, hit 10th, went 2nd 12th, every chance when blundered 4 out, weakened after next, 6th of 9, 14l behind Brer Bear (11-5) at Newbury 3m hts chs (6) gd in Mar.
Adventino 200-1 (11-3) In rear, hampered 3rd, mistake 7th, tailing off 9th, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Enitsag (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Ashclyst (IRE) 25-1 (11-9) Mid-division, blundered 11th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Rien A Perdre (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gf, 14 ran.
Earth Moving (IRE) 18-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, in touch until mistake 2nd, mistake 7th, struggling when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Farmer Frank (12-0) at Towcester 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd, 9 ran.
High Peak 33-1 (12-0) (cp) prom; led 15-16; wknd 3 out; pu nxt, in a race won by Jacks Taxi (12-0) at Trebudannon 3m ptp, 7 ran.
In The Frame (IRE) 9-2 (12-0) Chsd wnr; no ex 2 out, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Misamon (12-0) at Lydstep 3m ptp.
Nawow 25-1 (12-0) Prom; led 11-13; wknd app 2 out, 4th of 7, 25l behind Gentle Rivage (12-0) at Andoversford 3m ptp.
Nyrche (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Held up, not fluent 5th, headway 9th, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 17, 18l behind Rowdy Yeats (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd.
O'Toole (IRE) 15-2 (11-10) Mid-division, headway 6th, led after 9th, headed 11th, up 5 4 out until ridden before 2 out, one pace flat, 2nd of 17, 5l behind Rowdy Yeats (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd.
Red Guard 33-1 (12-0) Hdwy 8; chsd wnr 15 til wknd aft 2 out, 5th of 7, 26l behind Gentle Rivage (12-0) at Andoversford 3m ptp.
Van Ness (IRE) 5-4 (12-3) Held up; chsd wnr 2 out; ev ch when blun last; no ex, 2nd of 6, 3l behind Sovereign Quest (12-0) at Thorpe Lodge 3m ptp.
Viscount Bankes 40-1 (11-3) Raced keenly, headway 3rd, mistake next, lost place when hampered 6th, soon in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Rowdy Yeats (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd, 17 ran.
Makena (FR) 14-1 (10-7) (cp) (tt) led Evens2; wknd 15, 3rd of 5, 21l behind Bob Bites Back (11-0) at Lydstep 3m ptp.
