chased leader, led 8th, narrowly headed 10th, chased leader to 2 out, stayed on same pace from last
made most to 8th, chased leaders until weakened 13th, bled from the nose
jumped right, held up, weakened 3 out
chased leaders, good jump to lead 10th, blundered badly and nearly unseated rider 12th, ridden and headed approaching last, weakened flat
held up in touch, smooth headway and not fluent 4 out, soon chasing leaders, chased leader 2 out, led going well approaching last, pushed out flat
chased leaders, ridden 11th, weakened 13th, well beaten when blundered 2 out and pulled up before last
chased leaders, hit 4 out, weakened next
in touch, jumped slowly and ridden 9th, weakened 3 out
not always fluent, held up in rear, headway from 3 out, chased leaders last, chased winner but no impression flat
Nonrunner
A competitive race on paper with Bible Lord, Officer De Reserve and Aztec Warrior all worth noting with the vote going to the last named. The selection will come on from what ever he achieves today but his trainer is having winners first time of asking this season. He was good enough to finish in behind some top novices last season and ended the campaign in winning form at Fontwell back in April. He has the burden of carrying top weight but he is a big chasing type that should have no worries lumping the weight around. Bible Lord will pose as the biggest danger after winning back to back races at the back end of last season he was entitled to have needed his first race of the season and will strip fitter today. Officer De Reserve won on his only chase run last season and was not disgraced when fourth of seven at Cheltenham over hurdles on his return last month. He looks a chaser and having won also in his native France he has every chance of winning more this season so is a live contender. But for the winner we return to Aztec Warrior.
Aztec Warrior (IRE) 4-5fav (11-10) Tracked leader, not fluent 11th, ridden approaching 3 out, led soon after last, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (3) gf in Apr beating Which Pocket (11-1) by 3 1/2l, 4 ran.
Preacher Boy 9-2 (10-7) Led to approaching 13th, with leader until not fluent 14th, ridden 15th, lost touch 16th, 3rd of 5, well behind Little Brick (10-7) at Wincanton 3m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Feb.
Caribou (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Held up, weakened from 11th, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by New Alco (11-2) at Carlisle 2m 4f Grad Ch (2) gd in Nov, 7 ran.
Nice Try (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leader, led 4th, headed approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 13, 25l behind Principe Azzurro (10-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Officier De Reserve (FR) 9-4fav (10-12) Chased leaders throughout, ridden and no extra approaching last, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Middleton Dene (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gs in Oct.
Aristoxene (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Prominent, lost place from 6th, 6th of 16, 27l behind Mckelvey (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Cousin Nicky 8-1 (11-12) Chased leader until fell in race won by Cruising River (11-5) at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Nov, 12 ran.
Gentleman Jimmy 6-1 (11-2) Held up, blundered 4th, lost touch 12th, tailed off 4 out, 3rd of 5, well behind Ornais (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Nov.
Its Crucial (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Led to 11th, hit 12th, weakened before 4 out, 4th of 9, 30l behind John Diamond (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov.
Bible Lord (IRE) 4-1fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 8th, ridden and every chance 2 out, hit last, no extra, 4th of 13, 10l behind Principe Azzurro (10-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Young Collier 9-1 (11-0) Chased leader, led 3rd (water), set good pace, blundered 4 out, headed and weakned from next, blundered last, 5th of 7, 28l behind Magic Sky (10-12) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
