in touch, fell 6th
in touch, tracked leader 10th, mistake 4 out, weakened soon after
in rear and pecked 1st, closer order 6th, chased leader from 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, all out to lead flat
soon detached, jumped slowly 4th, well behind when pulled up before 6th
held up, hampered and lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, mistake 4th, led 6th, headed 8th, weakened approaching 11th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up, bad mistake 7th, headway to track leaders 12th, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, pulled up and collapsed approaching last
held up, reminders 8th, headway 10th, ridden to chase leaders and mistake 3 out, weakened last
Another tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Cameron Bridge, Hever Road and Free Gift and the narrow vote is given to the last named. The selection was a fair hunter chaser at his best and won in good style when last seen beating Beringario. He remains on a fair mark and as he goes well fresh he looks the value bet in an open affair. Cameron Bridge rates the main danger on his best form but he has disappointed on his last two runs for no apparent reason so he can not be put forward with any confidence. Hever Road is another worthy of respect as he was in top form when last seen notably when beating Koquelicot on his last run but that was 162 days ago and as his best form is on very fast ground he is opposed on this occasion. Lubinas is at his best when allowed to dominate but that does not look likely while Tighe Caster is from a yard in form and is worth noting in the market but for the winner we return to Free Gift.
Cameron Bridge (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Always towards rear, weakened 11th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Kings Brook (10-2) at N Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Aug, 14 ran.
Tighe Caster 22-1 (11-3) Tracked leading pair, lost touch with front pair after 6th, lost 3rd flat, last of 4, well behind Voy Por Ustedes (11-1) at Wincanton 2m nov chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Feb.
Hever Road (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Held up in touch, blundered 7th, headway 12th, led travelling well 2 out, idled and ridden out flat, won at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Apr beating Koquelicot (11-11) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Free Gift 7-4fav (11-5) Made all, ridden approaching 4 out, driven and ran on well from last, readily, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Dec beating Berengario (11-5) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
In Discussion (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Dropped rear 4th, tailed off and pulled up 2 out in race won by Maidstone Monument (10-10) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf, 9 ran.
Lubinas (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Chased leader to 4th, remained prominent, lost place 12th, rallied approaching 2 out, no impression, 6th of 9, 8l behind Green Go (9-10) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Runner Bean 25-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway approaching 10th, weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by He's The Biz (10-4) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Jul, 16 ran.
Xellance (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden after 8th, effort 3 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 8, 13l behind Incas (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
