led, jumped slowly and headed briefly 1st, mistake and headed next, lost 2nd after 5th, soon weakened, left remote 3rd 7th
tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 5th, injured and fell 7th
jumped well, tracked leader, led briefly 1st, led again next, clear from 5th, stayed on strongly, impressive
raced keenly, held up in 4th, closer in 3rd before 6th, left 2nd next, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out (normal 3 out), no chance with winner
NonRunner
High-class hurdler SHISHKIN is impossible to oppose making his chasing debut having won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham when last in action in March. A clear round should see Nicky Henderson’s charge off the mark over fences. Paul Nicholls sent out last year’s winner and Mick Pastor was still in contention when falling at the last at Fakenham on last month’s chasing bow. The four-year-old is weighted to beat Sangha River with both At Its Own Expense and Battle Anthem looking up against it.
Battle Anthem (IRE) 125-1 (11-2) Always last, not fluent 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Huntingdon 2m 4f (3) gd in Nov.
Sangha River (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader approaching 2 out until approaching last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 8 3/4l behind Mrs Hyde (10-7) at Kempton 2m lst (1) gd in Oct.
Shishkin (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway when badly hampered 2 out, driven to chase leaders on outside turning in, switched inside to challenge before last, soon ridden, stayed on to lead narrowly towards finish, just held on, won at Cheltenham 2m (1) sft in Mar beating Abacadabras (11-7) by hd, 15 ran.
Mick Pastor (FR) 11-10fav (10-7) Took keen hold, chased leader, pecked 4 out, challenged 2 out, every chance when fell last, at Fakenham 2m (3) gd in Oct.
At Its Own Expense (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, hit 7th, lost place approaching 8th, soon struggling and dropped to rear 10th, pulled up before 11th, at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
