chased leader to 3rd, prominent, hit 6th, chased leader next, led after 3 out, driven and in command last, stayed on well run-in
chased leaders in 4th, mistake and weakened 3 out
awkward 1st, chased leader 3rd, led 5th, not fluent 8th, joined 3 out, headed soon after, lost 2nd and hit next, weakened
led to 5th, chased leader until weakened after 7th, no danger after
in touch, ridden 8th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, headway to chase leaders after 3 out, chased winner and wandered approaching 2 out, looked held when blundered last, no impression
Knighton Lad is sure to be popular given his good form last season, however this typically late-maturing son of Supreme Leader may just need this run en-route a to a season of Novice Chasing, and so preference is for Tisseman ahead of Lucifer Bleu. The selection was pulled up when last seen and so a leap of faith is needed to back him today. However he showed plenty of ability last season and so he should run well having been given a break since. Being There is unexposed but will obviously find this race tougher than the one he won last time, whilst Alderman Rose must be a threat as he has shown plenty of ability but may be high enough in the weights for the time being. Lucifer Bleu looks a big danger; whilst the David Pipe stable are not in red-hot form, this ex-French trained gelding is well-treated back over hurdles compared to his chase rating and he should run well. Knighton Lad is an obvious danger, but top-weight on his reappearance may just tell in the closing stages and so we will plump for Tisseman to score off bottom-weight.
Knighton Lad (IRE) 15-8fav (10-6) Chased winner, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Ballyshan (10-2) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy in Mar.
Busy Isit 8-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, weakened 3 out, 11th of 17, 31l behind Salut Saint Cloud (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Lucifer Bleu (FR) 15-8fav (9-9) Led at good pace, mistakes 3rd and next, hit 5th, blundered 13th, headed 3 out, soon no chance with winner, weakened approaching last, 4th of 10, 13l behind Simon (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft in Feb.
Jiver (IRE) 33-1 (10-13) Chased leaders until weakened approaching 8th, 6th of 13, 23l behind Jockser (10-9) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in May '06.
Being There 33-1 (10-12) Held up, headway halfway, stayed on to lead near finish, won at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Jun beating Monty's Salvo (11-2) by a nk, 13 ran.
Tisseman (IRE) 7-1 (11-11) In touch, driven along after 4th, weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by First Boy (10-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) sft in Jun, 13 ran.
Alderman Rose 15-8jt-fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, one pace from next, 4th of 7, 11l behind The Crazy Parson (9-11) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf.
