held up, niggled along briefly after 7th, headway 2 out, stayed on to take 2nd flat, no chance with winner
led to 4th, stayed pressing leader, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last
prominent, ridden after 2 out, weakened last
with leader, led 4th, headed and held 3 lengths down when blundered last, weakened flat
held up in touch, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, ran on well to draw clear flat
held up, jumped slowly 2nd, headway 7th, weakened after 2 out
A tricky race to call for punters and we will side with Mylord Collonges to be too good for last-time winners Wenger and Premiership. The selection gets the vote largely on the basis of having the most consistent recent form on offer here, despite looking plenty high enough in the weights. This sort of trip and plenty of cut does suit, and the gelding receives weight from most of his opponents so he is the suggestion. Wenger won a poor race here last time when only eight fences were jumped due to unfit ground and low sun, and a 9lb hike in the weights and this ground won't make it very easy to follow up and we are prepared to field against him. Premiership is an inconsistent veteran who won on soft at Plumpton last time and relishes this sort of trip, but a 7lb penalty will make a follow up that bit more difficult and he is no good thing, but should be thereabouts. Harry Collins has form with cut in the ground and looks best of the rest, but Mylord Collonges is taken to gain further reward for his consistency.
Wenger (FR) 13-2 (10-8) Held up, headway after 6th, went 2nd over 2f out, led over 1f out, ran on, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd beating Storm of Applause (11-10) by 3l, 12 ran.
Alam (USA) 5-1 (11-5) Led and raced keen, mistakes throughout, headed after 2nd, blundered 5 out, one pace, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Art Virginia (10-4) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Premiership (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Held up, tracked leader 4th, ridden to lead 2 out, ridden out, won at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy beating Master T (11-10) by 6l, 6 ran.
Young Lorcan 16-1 (11-2) Held up in close 5th, ridden after 11th, weakened 4 out and pulled up in race won by Young Dancer (11-7) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy, 5 ran.
Mylord Collonges (FR) 7-2 (10-12) Prominent, led 8th, headed 5 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 15, 7l behind Atouchbetweenacara (11-11) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd.
Harry Collins 8-1 (10-9) Held up, hit 2nd and 6th, headway to chase leaders after 4 out, kept on from same pace, no impression, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Cash On Friday (10-10) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
