raced wide, chased leaders, lost place before 9th, towards rear and never on terms after, tailed off
chased leaders, close 2nd 3 out, led before next, stayed on well, bit in hand
held up in rear, good headway 10th, chased leaders soon after, weakened after 3 out
behind, blundered and almost unseated rider 6th, pulled up before next
chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 3rd, led briefly next, hit 3 out and lost 2nd, modest 2nd again 2 out, no chance with winner, weakened into 3rd run-in
led until after 2nd, chased leaders, outpaced after 3 out, rallied next, went 2nd and kept on run-in, no chance with eased down winner
raced keenly tracking leader, jumped right at times, led after 2nd, briefly headed 4th, went right 7th, hit 9th, pushed along and headed before 2 out, lost 2nd 2 out, ridden and weakened between last 2
always towards rear, mistake and struggling 8th, tailed off 10th, blundered next, pulled up before 2 out
CAPTAIN SPEAKING (NAP) took a big step forward on his second run over fences, winning easily at Uttoxeter, and a similar performance here should suffice even though he’s been hit with a 12lb rise. Easter Eric should make a better chaser than hurdler and Enforcement’s second at Bangor was his best run to date over the larger obstacles. Golden Poet was second to a Newton Abbot course specialist last time while Stand By Me is tried in blinkers, though isn’t getting any younger.
Easter Eric 16-1 (11-5) Prominent, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra flat, 5th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Corri Lindo (11-10) at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Captain Speaking (FR) 6-1 (10-9) Led until 2nd, led 5th, clear from 4 out, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Sep beating Northern Bound (11-12) by 10l, 11 ran.
Golden Poet (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway 5th, went 2nd 10th, led next, headed after 3 out, no impression on winner next, 2nd of 10, 9 1/2l behind Cheltenam De Vaige (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Stand By Me (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Held up, hit 2nd, pushed along after 3rd, tailed off 8th, pulled up after 9th, at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Aug.
Enforcement (IRE) 17-2 (10-3) Led narrowly, jumped left 1st and 2nd, maintained advantage 2 out, ridden and joined last, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Joly Maker (11-1) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Aug.
Easy Bucks 20-1 (11-0) Left chasing leader (winner) from 1st, lost 2nd 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Totally Rejected (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f (4) gs in Jul.
Princess Midnight 6-1 (10-5) Towards rear of mid-division on inside, driven along and no impression in 5th after 3 out, 5th of 16, 29l behind Lamh Ar Lamh (10-12) at Taunton 3m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
American Craftsman (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, driven and reminders 2 out, stayed on after last without troubling winner, 3rd of 11, 10l behind Beautiful Ben (11-10) at Southwell 2m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
