led to 6th, mistake 7th, 3rd and 5 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
always towards rear, left poor 3rd 4 out, tailed off and jumped left from 3 out
not fluent, in touch, reminder 6th, weakened 9th, tailed off when refused 3 out
with leader, led 6th, headed and fell 12th
in touch, mistake 1st, left 2nd 12th, led and hung left from 2 out, hung badly left at the last, ridden out
held up, 6th and 7 lengths down when mistaken and unseated rider 12th
tracked leaders, led 12th, ridden and headed 2 out, eased when held towards finish
It will be interesting to see what An Accordion achieves switched to fences after just one start when second in a Cheltenham bumper earlier this month but David Pipe's gelding is something of an unknown quantity and a safer bet looks to be Reach For The Top, who is marginally preferred to Original Thought. The last mentioned certainly deserves to get his head in front following several placed efforts but Ben de Haan's gelding is proving to be hard to win with and may have to settle for a minor role again. Blue Sovereign ran promisingly in handicap over course and distance last time but faces a stiffer task today, while Lugo Rock is hard to back with confidence on his first start since finishing down the field in a Worcester bumper in April of last year. The vote then goes to Reach For The Top, who showed promise over hurdles and again on his chasing debut behind Mr Pointment at Bangor recently. The faster ground today should suit Henrietta Knight's gelding and he looks worth a bet.
Blue Sovereign 7-2fav (10-2) Chased leaders, mistake 1st and 2nd, ridden 10th, hit 13th, mistake 3 out, left 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 7l behind Mr Splodge (11-5) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.
Gaelic Music (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, weakened 12th, behind when pulled up 5 out in race won by Down The Stretch (10-13) at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (3) gf, 9 ran.
Lugo Rock (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Behind from halfway, tailed off, 14th of 17, 41l behind The Grey Man (10-8) at Worcester 2m nhf (H) gs in Apr '05.
Original Thought (IRE) 11-8 (11-0) In touch, headway after 6th, tracked winner next, ridden 3 out, faded flat, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Corrib Eclipse (11-0) at Worcester 3m nov hdl (4) gs in May.
An Accordion (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 4f out, every chance over 1f out, stayed on, no impression on winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 4l behind Cork All Star (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nhf lst (1) gs.
Nagam (FR) 7-2 (10-13) Led until after 1st, led again 2nd until approaching 5th, ridden and lost 2nd after 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 10, 35l behind Good Book (10-13) at Warwick 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Reach For The Top (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, headway after 3 out, not fluent next, one pace after, 4th of 12, 8l behind Mr Pointment (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd.
