with winner until 2nd, stayed 2nd until ridden after 7th, weakened 2 out
chased leading pair, chased winner after 7th, no impression, lost 2nd last, weakened flat
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, ran on from 2 out, never near winner
held up in rear, disputed 4th from 4th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake next
jumped well, made all, clear 3 out, unchallenged
held up in 4th, ridden after 6th, weakened next, tailed off
held up in rear, pushed along after 4th, behind next, tailed off when pulled up and dismounted after 2 out
held up in rear, disputing modest 5th 2 out, soon weakened
Gerald Ham's Red Jester heads the runners in the weights for this handicap chase and has claims on the pick of his form but he faces no easy task on his reappearance having been pulled up when last seen in December and preference is for KIRKHAMMERTON, who gets the vote ahead of Glimmer of Light. Richard Newland's gelding won well in a selling handicap at Plumpton last month and has claims on the form shown that day but he has disappointed in two starts since then and is hard to back with confidence. Andrew Turnell's Croon has slipped to a fair mark but needs to improve on the form show in two previous starts this term to trouble the judge, while Nawow has shown little worthwhile form of late. Jonjo O'Neill's Conkering has yet to even be placed in 10 starts over hurdles and of more interest may be Secret Cavern, who had little chance behind Skye But N Ben last time. The vote then goes the way of Barry Leavy's Kirkhammerton, who has been running consistently well in selling races of late and may be worth chancing in what does not look the strongest of handicaps.
Red Jester 8-1 (11-1) Mistake 1st, prominent in chasing group, blundered 9th, weakened before 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Fighting Chance (11-7) at Newbury 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Dec, 13 ran.
Nawow 7-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, driven and outpaced after 3 out, 7 length down in 3rd when blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Devils River (10-12) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Apr, 6 ran.
Kirkhammerton (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) In touch, hampered 4th, close 3rd 3 out, soon driven and beaten, 3rd of 11, 17l behind Den Maschine (10-12) at Towcester 2m sll hdl (4-8yo) (5) gf.
Conkering (USA) 25-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, reminders after 6th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Liz's Dream (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gs, 10 ran.
Glimmer of Light (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, ridden and behind from next, 5th of 7, well behind Storm Surge (10-9) at Wetherby 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Croon 9-2 (11-1) Held up behind, headway to track leaders 3 out, soon driven and outpaced, no impression when left 3rd next, weakened and lost place after last, 5th of 6, 31l behind Devils River (10-12) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
Popcorn Rosie 8-1 (11-5) Raced keenly, led 2nd to 5th, pushed along after 7th, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 9, 23l behind Tanmeya (9-10) at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Jul.
Secret Cavern (USA) 14-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace, never on terms, 6th of 15, 38l behind Skye But N Ben (11-6) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
