led, mistake and headed 3rd, led 7th, not fluent and headed next, chased winner, not fluent 12th, weakened after 3 out
not fluent 1st, raced keenly in rear, headway approaching 9th, not fluent 13th, chased winner 3 out, weakened flat
in touch, not fluent 2nd or 3rd, mistake 10th, jumped slowly 11th, weakened after 3 out
not fluent 1st, held up in rear, pecked 10th, pushed along 14th, ridden after next, mistake 3 out, headway when not fluent 2 out, mistake last, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
prominent, hit 4 out, weakening when hit 2 out
chased leaders, lost place when hit 9th, ridden 14th, behind from next, tailed off
not fluent 1st, chased leader, led 3rd until not fluent 7th, led again 8th, hit 2 out, stayed on flat
pulled hard, held up, hit 9th, behind when went left and mistake 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, lost place when blundered 8th, headway 11th, jumped slowly 15th, stayed on same pace approaching last
There's an intriguing mix of experienced chasers and unexposed sorts here and the latter category may provide the winner in the shape of CAN'T BUY TIME. King Barry may be able to build on a fairly encouraging return whilst Porters War and Sea Eagle merit consideration. Can't Buy Time left his previous form well behind when running on well to shed his maiden tag at Southwell for which he's been handed a 9lb rise. It wasn't a strong race by any means but he did win it very easily and he's given the chance to confirm that impression. Free Gift is tried in cheekpieces here which may help but he, Baodai and Lankawi have all lost their way and are opposable until back on the right path. King Barry's form also tailed off at the end of last season but he ran well enough over hurdles earlier in the month to be considered here. The best of Porters War's form in bumpers and over hurdles suggests that he could be interestingly handicapped ahead of his chase bow and he makes more appeal than Sea Eagle who is also making his chase debut but who doesn't appeal as being so well treated. The market should be useful but Can't Buy Time has sound claims of recording back to back successes.
King Barry (FR) 16-1 (11-9) Led, headed between last 2, edged right and no extra flat, 4th of 10, 13l behind Gray Mountain (11-9) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (3) gd.
Porters War (IRE) 3-1 (11-6) Prominent, mistake 7th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed and held in 3rd when fell at the last in race won by Fairoak Lad (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Baodai (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Mid-division, some headway 13th, no progress from 3 out, mistake 2 out, 7th of 15, 23l behind Mister Apple's (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Sea Eagle (IRE) 6-4fav (11-0) Prominent, hit 4th, driven approaching 7th, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 13, 19l behind Ballykelly (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Free Gift 13-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hit 11th, soon ridden, weakened after 4 out, 6th of 7, well behind Soleil Fix (11-6) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Pan The Man (IRE) 11-1 (11-11) Led, ridden after 3 out, kept on, no extra when headed towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Monzon (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Can't Buy Time (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) With leader, led 3rd, headed after 12th, led 14th, drew clear from 3 out, eased towards finish, won at Southwell 3m nov hcp chs (4) gd beating Downing Street (11-12) by 7l, 6 ran.
Pams Oak 7-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, hung left and chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression approaching last, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Strong Coffee (10-12) at Southwell 3m nov hdl (4) gd.
Lankawi 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led approaching 6th, headed 10th, weakened 4 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Different Class (10-12) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sept, 14 ran.
