chased leader, led 7th to after 8th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out
swerved left start, mid-division, good headway to lead on bit 11th, quickened approaching 3 out, ran on well from last
held up last, ridden and headway 12th, kept on same pace
prominent, led 4th, hit 7th and lost place, jumped slowly 11th and weakened, soon tailed off
led to 4th, with leader, led after 8th to 11th, mistake 13th, rallied and every chance last, no extra flat
mid-division, not fluent 5th, lost touch 6th, pulled up before 4 out
held up in touch, ridden 12th, kept on one pace
Heather Dalton's runners are going really well at present and we take Hehasalife to follow up his recent Hereford win at the main expense of Sunshan and River Quoile. The selection has goes well at this trip and bounced off the faster ground to win that race last time. On a cautionary note, he has had the odd jumping problem in the past, so we are reliant upon him doing that discipline well, but provided he does he should be capable of defying a 7lb penalty. Course and distance winner Sunshan is respected. He is 13lb higher than when winning a novices' handicap chase here 18 months ago, but loves the ground and was not far away at Wincanton last time, so he looks sure to go well. Of the others, few make much appeal, though River Quoile has run well off this sort of mark on fast ground and over similar trips before, suggesting he can make the frame. But Hehasalife left the impression that he could follow up and we'll back him to do so.
Search And Destroy (USA) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leader to 10th, soon weakened, last of 6, 27l behind Flahive's First (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd in Jul.
Hehasalife (IRE) 3-1 (10-4) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, led 15th, clear 2 out, hit last, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf beating Peach Of A Citizen (10-3) by 8l, 7 ran.
Icy Belle (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, lost place from 3 out, kept on same pace under pressure from before next, 7th of 16, 6l behind Just (11-1) at Tramore 2m 6f hcp chs 0-95 gd.
River Quoile 14-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, led 5th until 10th, remained in touch, mistake 13th, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 10, 28l behind Bay Island (10-7) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gs.
Just Reuben (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 6, 23l behind Breaking Breeze (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) frm.
Roymillon (GER) 14-1 (10-0) Behind, ridden and headway 4 out, 5th when went lame and pulled up at the last in race won by Be The Tops (11-5) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-100 (F) gd in Jul '04, 13 ran.
Illineylad (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Led, headed approaching 4th, led again approaching 8th, headed after 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 12, 18l behind Southerncrosspatch (10-9) at Worcester 3m sll hcp hdl 0-95 (G) gf.
Sunshan 3-1jt-fav (9-8) Prominent, headway and challenged 4 out, ridden 3 out, led approaching last, hard ridden flat, headed close home, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Breaking Breeze (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-110 (E) frm.
