led and soon left clear after start, unchallenged
reluctant to race and very slowly away, in rear, chased winner from 2nd and a lot to do, kept on and always well held
chased winner until 2nd, in 4th and struggling when faultered and pulled up before 10th
chased leaders, pushed along 9th, weakened from 4 out
whipped around and refused to race
Withdrawn
This looks to be between VIEUX LION ROUGE and Aalim with David Pipe's gelding, who made a winning start over the larger obstacles in comfortable fashion at Towcester, fancied to defy his penalty. His likely market rival was rated 10lb inferior over timber and tackles fences for the first time today off the back of a disappointing run at Worcester when sent off favourite. Michael Chapman and John Cornwall provide the rest of the field between them but they'll be playing for place money only if the top two complete.
Vieux Lion Rouge (FR) 4-6fav (10-12) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led well before 2 out, joied 2 out, headed briefly between last 2, in command last, came clear run-in, won at Towcester 2m 6f nov chs (4) gs in May beating Simply The West (10-12) by 3l, 6 ran.
Aalim 3-1fav (11-12) Mid-division, headway to go 3rd before 3 out, one pace, 3rd of 8, 22l behind Street Entertainer (11-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Dontupsettherhythm (IRE) 20-1 (9-13) Tracked leader until 5th, pushed along 4 out, weakened before next, 7th of 9, 41l behind Grand Vintage (11-4) at Cartmel 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in May.
Joyful Motive 25-1 (9-9) Chased leaders until lost place after 2nd, soon pushed along and in rear, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Pembroke House (11-0) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Apr, 8 ran.
Radsoc De Sivola (FR) 50-1 (9-12) In rear, outpaced 3rd, behind from 6th, left remote 3rd 4 out, 3rd of 4, well behind Red Seventy (10-9) at Fakenham 2m nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Next Exit (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Chased leaders until lost place approaching 10th, rallied into 3rd before 3 out (usual 4 out), no chance with 1st two, 3rd of 7, well behind Cardinal Rose (11-1) at Southwell 3m 5yo nov hcp (4) gd.