made all, not fluent 8th, clear 14th, unchallenged
mistake and unseated rider 1st
disputed lead to 6th, chased winner, outpaced 14th, rallied approaching 2 out, hard ridden approaching last, no impression
held up, lost touch from 13th, mistake 15th, tailed off when jumped slowly 4 out
Top Chief was only beaten half-a-length over course and distance 11 days ago and will go close again with a similar effort under the same 10lb claimer. But Dan Skelton wastes no time putting HELLO FELLAS over fences after taking him off the hands of Nicky Richards. Placed twice over hurdles up to 3m, the six-year-old could be well treated. The Flame has won a point-to-point and a hurdle and was second on his fencing bow at Stratford so can’t be ignored but Dry Ol'party was tailed off on his chasing bow around here.
The Flame (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) Tracked winner throughout, ridden after 3 out, no impression before last, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Comanche Chieftain (11-12) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Aug.
Hello Fellas (IRE) 5-6fav (11-9) Tracked leaders on inside, effort to challenge 2 out, soon ridden, kept on and every chance flat, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Christmas Twenty (11-8) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Top Chief 4-1jfav (11-8) Tracked leader, disputed lead from 4th, led 10th, clear 4 out, ridden after 2 out, hard pressed last, headed flat, no extra, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Midnight Queen (10-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Dry Ol'party 66-1 (10-7) Soon detached in last trio, took remote 3rd 15th, plugged on, never any chance with clear pair, tailed off, 3rd of 6, dist behind Beat That (11-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f (3) gd in Aug.
