held up in rear, headway after 4 out, 3rd and 5 lengths down when fell 4 out
held up, headway and hit 13th, went 2nd next, ridden 3 out, led 2 out, stayed on
led 2nd, blundered 9th, ridden 3 out, headed and mistake 2 out, no extra flat
led to 2nd, tracked leaders, lost place 6th, behind when hit 11th, soon pulled up
prominent, hit 9th, weakened 14th, tailed off when fell 3 out
held up, headway 6th, pushed along after 12th, weakened after 14th, no chance when badly hampered and left 3rd 4 out
Chabrimal Minster, Underwriter and Mon Mome look like the three to concentrate on in this novices; chase and the vote is given to Chambrimal Minster. The selection has been slow to come to hand but he remains lightly-raced and he won well last time out at Aintree. He will go on the ground and with more improvement likely he gets the vote. Underwriter is a likeable type who jumps really well and his trainer Ferdy Murphy is confident he will win his fair share of races. He is another lightly-raced type but he may find this ground a little on the testing side and for that reason he is passed over on this occasion. Mon Mome put up a cracking effort last time out when finishing second behind Major Euro. He will have needed the run that day as he had fallen at the third fence when returning from a break on his previous outing after a break. He is stepped-up in trip today and as he is unproven over this longer distance we will take him on, but if he gets home he will not be far away at the finish. It will be a surprise if any of the others are good enough and for the winner we will stick with the progressive Chabrimal Minster.
Underwriter (USA) 11-4fav (10-8) Jumped well, held up in touch, headway 7th, led approaching 11th, clear 4 out, unchallenged, won at Hereford 3m 1f nov chs (E) gs beating Superrollercoaster (10-8) by 12l, 6 ran.
Mon Mome (FR) 5-1 (11-0) Held up, headway after 6th, switched right after 4 out, edged right after 2 out, every chance last, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Major Euro (11-4) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd.
Chabrimal Minster 6-4fav (11-9) Chased leaders, led 13th, hit 15th, clear when blundered 2 out, easily, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Oct beating Jardin de Beaulieu (11-12) by a distance, 6 ran.
Oscar Performance (IRE) 7-1 (11-1) Behind, headway and close up 11th, eased before 15th, behind when pulled up 4 out in race won by Moor Lane (11-9) at Kempton 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd in Feb '03, 7 ran.
Toon Trooper (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Took keen hold, held up, jumped right 2nd, not fluent 5th, headway approaching 4 out, no impression, 3rd of 7, 16l behind Hold On Harry (10-11) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (E) gf in May.
Valleymore (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) In touch, ridden 3 out, outpaced when jumped right next, rallied flat, 4th of 9, 11l behind Spring Gamble (10-13) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (D) sft in Oct.
