many positions, ran in snatches, last and driven after 14th (water), tailed off
held up towards rear, not fluent 12th, ridden 15th, weakening when hit 18th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
led until 7th, lost place after 14th (water), well behind 18th, tailed off
tracked leaders, ridden after 18th, every chance 4 out, no extra flat, lost 2nd post
tracked leaders, jumped right and not fluent 3rd, ridden after 18th, close enough in 4th 3 out, weakened flat
held up in rear, headway approaching 15th, lost place next, weakening when mistake 18th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mainly in rear, not fluent 6th, pushed along after 14th, not fluent 16th, weakened 17th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 13th, headway 16th, outpaced after 18th, stayed on approaching last, took 2nd post, no impression on winner
tracked leader, led 7th, ridden after 18th, headed 3 out, weakened last
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 10th, led and mistake 3 out, clear flat, stayed on well
A chance is taken on SEA WALL to get the better of Ginolad, Chiaro and Shouldhavehadthat in what looks a fair race. Jonjo O'Neill's charge has been off the track since breaking a blood vessel in June and so clearly comes with risks attached. That said, he's gone well fresh in the past, has won here at Ludlow and remains fairly treated off a mark of 120, whilst all of his career victories have come on good or faster ground. Clearly, he's got plenty in hand and some of these arrive under a cloud so he's given a chance ahead of Chiaro, a well-treated horse whose latest efforts have been poor. Still, he has been taking in some top contests including the Scottish National last time so this represents a fair drop in class and, as a horse who has shown his best form under these conditions, there's every chance it will spark a revival. Another horse who enters calculations is Shouldhavehadthat, who hasn't had much racing this season and therefore may be fresher than some. He was a shade disappointing last time but this is a horse who has claimed the scalps of top chasers Poker De Sivola and Tricky Trickster in the past so it's too soon to be writing him off. Ginolad is the other horse to be awarded a place on our shortlist having shown consistent form since arriving from Australia. This is the gelding's first try in a handicap and he seems fairly treated off 120, particularly as Venetia Williams had high hopes for him once. Boychuk has paid his way over the years but he's only won one handicap, off 128, so this mark of 139 appears harsh so a bigger threat could be De Soto, who returns to fences in a race easier than many he's contested. This is competitive and confidence in any cannot be particularly high but Sea Wall is the call.
Boychuk (IRE) 7-2fav (11-10) Prominent, lost place and ridden 11th, soon in rear, stayed on to go 4th approaching 2 out, kept on flat, 4th of 10, 16l behind Ouzbeck (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Winsley Hill 6-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, weakened 4 out, soon beaten, last of 5, well behind Sagalyrique (11-7) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Seymar Lad (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Soon lost place, behind from 5th, ridden 8th, tailed off when pulled up 13th, in a race won by Beat The Boys (10-8) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct, 11 ran.
De Soto 12-1 (11-0) Led, hit 7th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed last, no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 4, 21l behind El Dancer (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Chiaro (FR) 25-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway after 15th, chased leaders next, weakened approaching 18th, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
Shouldhavehadthat (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, mistake 13th, headway after 17th, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 10, 25l behind Ouzbeck (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Sea Wall 11-4fav (10-11) Soon led, headed and reminded and headed after 13th, soon lost place, pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Fire And Rain (11-3) at Uttoxeter 3m 4f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Jun, 17 ran.
Ginolad (AUS) 7-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, under pressure 4 out, weakened next, 3rd of 8, 30l behind Otage De Brion (10-12) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Apr.
Cousin Nicky 13-2 (11-4) Led, headed briefly approaching 5th, headed 5 out, weakened next, 4th of 5, 29l behind Petite Margot (10-10) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
Tyup Pompey (IRE) 11-2 (9-11) Held up 4th and last but in touch, went 2nd 6th, led after 8th, made rest, ridden clear between last 2, ran on well, won at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr beating Huguenot (11-2) by 6l, 4 ran.
