chased leaders, led 5 out, pushed along and headed after 4 out, weakened tamely well before 3 out, tailed off
front mid-division, reminders after 5th, bad mistake 4 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, ridden after last, ran on but not pace to challenge
towards rear, pushed along and headway into mid-division before 3 out, not fluent 3 out, stayed on steadily at one pace from 2 out
fell 1st in rear
in rear, headway after 4 out, went 4th home turn, pressed leaders 3 out, led after 2 out, ran on, not extended, easily
in rear, not fluent on occasions, mistake 4 out, soon pulled up
mid-division, pushed along home turn, weakened before 3 out
chased leaders, ridden and pressed leaders 3 out, kept on one pace
towards rear, headway into mid-division 4 out, pushed along before 3 out, hampered jumping last, kept on but no chance with winner
led, headed and weakened quickly 5 out, pulled up
tracked leader, led after 4 out, soon pushed along, ridden and headed 3 out, hit 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, headway to be prominent before 5 out, pressed leader 3 out, every chance when mistake 2 out, jumped left last, kept on one pace run-in
Despite modest prize money, this has attracted a strong line-up. Foxboro ran well on a couple of occasions at the start of the year and Lamanver Storm looks the type to make a chaser while Buckhorn George is potentially well treated. Confirmation Bias won over hurdles but may be better on quicker going and Blame The Game was pulled up when making his chasing debut here last month. Animal, however, was second over track and trip just over two weeks ago and will know more today. STAR ACADEMY was very lightly raced over hurdles and should come into his own now tackling fences. He just gets the nod ahead of ahead of a similar type in Seven No Trumps. Only beaten half-a-length last time at Fontwell, Dorking Lad is also respected in first-time blinkers.
Blame The Game (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Led, mistake and headed 6th, chased leader, mistake 13th, mistake and lost 2nd next, soon ridden, weakened quickly, pulled up after omitted 4 out, at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Buckhorn George 9-1 (10-12) Held up in mid-division, sprawled on landing and fell 9th, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
Foxboro (GER) 18-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, jumped slowly 4th and next, plugged on in 5th from 2 out, never dangerous, 5th of 8, 14 1/2l behind Editeur Du Gite (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Get Your Own (IRE) 40-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, 8th of 14, 26 1/4l behind Soaring Glory (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) sft in Oct.
Star Academy (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Raced keenly, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, went 2nd after next, ridden and stayed on same pace from last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Dobryn (11-5) at Plumpton 2m mdn (4) sft in Jan.
Seven No Trumps (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along and progress before 2 out, reminders 2 out, outpaced by front pair before last, 3rd of 6, 13 1/2l behind Brayhill (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 3f mdn (4) sft in Mar.
Confirmation Bias (IRE) 11-4 (11-6) Tracked leader, shoved along before 2 out, outpaced before last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Casa Loupi (11-1) at Wincanton 1m 7f (4) gd in Apr.
Lamanver Storm 18-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, weakened after 7th, pulled up before 3 out, at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Silent Assistant (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Prominent until 2nd, soon last, ridden 9th, not fluent and weakened 3 out, 3rd of 5, 31l behind Scene Not Herd (11-0) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Honorary Colonel (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) Soon chasing leaders on inside, ridden and plugging on in 3rd when left modest 2nd at the last, 2nd of 11, 15l behind Faire Part Sivola (11-13) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
You Say Nothing (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Led until 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 7, 34 1/2l behind Jamacho (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Dorking Lad 5-4fav (11-10) Awkward jump first, held up, ridden 6 out, no impression until headway from 3 out, took lead after last but quickly headed, stayed on gamely, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Luckofthedraw (11-5) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Animal (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Mid-division, jumped left on occasions, dropped to rear but still in touch 7th, ridden and went 4th 3 out, stayed on to take 2nd run-in , no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 6 1/2l behind Clondaw Promise (11-11) at Lingfield 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov.
