behind, blundered 6th, reminders 11th, headway into moderate 5th 14th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, blundered 7th, weakened and pulled up before 10th
held up in rear, headway into moderate 4th 3 out, well held when blundered last, tailed off
chased leaders, blundered 14th, weakened 4 out
chased winner, ridden approaching 2 out, driven and lost 2nd between last 2, weakened last
mid-division, blundered 7th, mistake and never going well from next, behind from 12th, pulled up 15th
held up, good headway approaching 15th, tracked leaders 3 out, driven to chase winner between last 2, no impression from last
pushed along throughout, chased leaders, mistake 6th, ridden 9th, weakened into moderate 5th before 2 out, blundered last
always in rear, driven along and struggling 14th, blundered 16th, tailed off
made all, hit 2 out, driven between last 2, kept on gamely from last
There are no fewer than four last time out winners in the field for this handicap chase including Dennis The Legend, Mister Apple's and Quattrocento but it is hard to get away from EL BANDINDOS. David Pipe's gelding made an impressive return to action on his chasing debut, having not been seen since September 2007, when running out the good winner of a handicap chase at Uttoxeter last month and he has solid claims of defying the 8lb rise for that success. Peter Bowen's Mr Ed has been running well and winning in hunter chases but he disappointed on his return to a handicap at Perth earlier this month and looks best watched now. Heather Dalton's Victor Daly was good value for his win at Southwell in March but he has failed to run up to a similar level of form in three starts since then and is hard to recommend. Dennis The Legend has a lot more to do than when narrowly winning a hunter chase at Stratford last time, while Mister Apple's has harshly gone up 5lbs for his neck success at Uttoxeter. Quattrocento won similarly narrowly at Ffos Las last month but an 8lb rise for that success looks stiff and preference is for David Pipe's El Bandindos.
Victor Daly (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) Mid-division, not fluent 15th, soon weakened, 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.
Quattrocento (FR) 10-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, hard ridden 2 out, led flat, won at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun beating Job One (11-4) by hd, 15 ran.
El Bandindos (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Patiently ridden in rear, headway approaching 6th, ridden to go 2nd 3f out, hung left thereafter, led 1f out, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jun beating Kisha King (10-9) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
Bantry Bere (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Towards rear, ridden 9th, never dangerous, 9th of 16, well behind Sea Wall (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Mister Apple's (FR) 5-1 (11-12) Led to 2nd, pressed leader, slightly hampered by lose horse 4th, led after 10th until 11th, led 12th, headed narrowly 2 out, gamely regained lead flat, all out, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Jun beating Gallik Dawn (11-9) by nk, 9 ran.
Mr Ed (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up, in touch 7th, weakened 14th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Crozan (11-0) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf, 13 ran.
Dennis The Legend 14-1 (11-10) In touch, led 10th, challenged from 3 out, kept on well under pressure, won at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (2) gd in May beating Bob Bites Back (11-10) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Hautclan (FR) 25-1 (11-10) In rear, lost touch 9th, pulled up before 11th, in a race won by Sea Wall (11-7) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun, 16 ran.
Super Judge (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) In rear and mistakes, struggling from 9th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Marufo (11-9) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Jun, 9 ran.
Spare Change (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Prominent throughout, on terms from 6 out, soon headed, dropped to 4th and no extra from 2 out, 4th of 14, 24l behind Ballito (11-0) at Roscommon 3m hcp chs 0-109 fm in Jun.
