held up, headway on inside 10th, went 2nd 5 out, kept on same pace from 3 out, no impression
in touch, not fluent 6th, pushed along 8th, weakened 5 out, no chance when blundered next
led to 3rd, tracked leaders, mistake 9th (water), outpaced 4 out, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden 3 out, never on terms
tracked leaders to 5 out, weakened next
mid-division, outpaced 5 out, soon weakened
held up, headway approaching 4 out, kept on same pace, no impression
close up on inside, lost place 5th, soon beaten
with leaders, led 3rd, made rest, drew clear from 2 out, comfortably
New Alco is taken to defy topweight in the day's feature race, with Turgeonev, South Bronx and King's Bounty likely to give him most to do. The new partnership of Ferdy Murphy and Graham Lee will pay to follow this season, and they can collect here with the five-year-old New Alco who can put his older rivals in the shade and defy topweight to land this year's Bobby Renton. The French-bred was successful on his British bow over hurdles at Aintree 12 months ago, and since going chasing has taken on good company at the likes of Haydock and Punchestown. He goes well fresh, and any further rain that falls will benefit his chances of beating his eight rivals here. Turgeonev is a real course specialist, having won four times round here in the past, and Tim Easterby's 11-year-old is well over a stone lower than when beaten in this race last year. He will no doubt make his presence felt, and makes slightly more appeal than stablemate King's Bounty who has also won here in the past. South Bronx is pretty consistent and can hang on for a place if setting out to try and make all, but New Alco is worth following this term and can come back with a bang.
New Alco (FR) 13-2 (11-1) Mid-division, progress into 6th 4 out, 4th before next, no extra approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 6th of 14, 16l behind One Four Shannon (10-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 gd in Apr.
Classic Capers 20-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, 6th of 11, 17l behind Mixsterthetrixster (10-13) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in May.
South Bronx (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led, ridden last, carried left last, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, hd behind Jallastep (10-2) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Sept.
In The Frame (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) Chased clear leader, led 3 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 7, 15l behind Lucky Do (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Jul.
Turgeonev (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Led to 3rd, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, stayed on from next, 4th of 9, 7l behind Toulouse (11-10) at Southwell 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in May.
Manbow (IRE) 7-2 (11-1) Tracked leaders, hit 9th, chased winner from 13th, one pace when hit last, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Red Perk (9-6) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
King's Bounty 10-3 (11-0) Chased leaders, quickly weakened, lost place 4 out, stayed on from next, took 3rd last, 3rd of 6, well behind Garde Bien (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in May.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 5-2fav (11-12) In touch, led 6th, headed before 10th, tracked winner, ridden 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Pams Oak (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Aug.
