tracked leaders, blundered 8th, with clear leaders 14th, ridden 5 out, weakened 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden 8th, lost touch 11th, kept going for poor 4th
with leader, led 4th, headed 11th, with clear leaders and ridden 15th, weakened 3 out
led, headed and reminders 4th, mistake and soon behind 6th, lost touch 10th, pulled up before 14th
held up rear, behind from 12th, pulled up before 15th
tracked leader, mistake 3rd, with leader from 5th, led 11th, ridden when headed approaching 2 out, carried left approaching last and switched right, no extra
mid-division, mistake 9th, reminders next, ridden and behind from 12th, pulled up before 14
in rear, headway 9th, ridden from 5 out, led approaching 2 out, edged left under pressure approaching last, all out
Wise King is just given the nod ahead of Sir D'Orton and Act In Time in a tricky handicap chase. Jim Old's charge may be thirteen years young but that certainly hasn't blunted his appetite for the game and he presently sits on a fairly lenient handicap mark given his decent completion record. Sir D'Orton is likely to be popular for the team of Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh although enthusiasm has to be slightly blunted by a number of recent "flat" performances by some of the Ditcheat handler's inmates. Act In Time ran a stinker at Cartmel and connections were unable to offer any explanation to the stewards. He is given a watching brief. Avalon Buck has chances on the best of his form but his completion rate far from inspires confidence. Choisty will probably find this trip to be on the sharp side for him these days.
