chased leaders, hit wing upright 12th, outpaced when not fluent, hampered and left 4th 4 out, weakened next
held up in rear, not fluent 1st, headway 12th, left 3rd 4 out, went 2nd last, stayed on, always held by winner
made all, not fluent 11th, driven flat, stayed on gamely
prominent on outside, lost place 10th, well held 4 out, rallied and went 3rd flat, no impression
held up in rear, went 5th 4 out, never on terms, well beaten next
mid-division, pushed along 10th, driven and struggling next, well beaten 4 out
prominent, ridden 12th, 3 lengths 3rd when fell 4 out
prominent, jumped right 12th, soon ridden, driven 3 out, edged right and lost 2nd last, weakened flat
This novices' handicap has attracted entries from several powerful stables. David Pipe runs two with Tom Scudamore preferring For 'n' Against to Dusk Till Dawn, despite a modest effort here last time. Spillers Dream should do better now switched to fences as he's already won twice between the flags. He's a potential blot on the handicap but Paul Nicholls' top weight Ruddy Article needs some help from the handicapper and Steps And Stairs and Zayfire Aramis are hard to catch right. WHAT HAPPENS NOW has taken to fences like a duck to water and can complete his hat-trick, despite a further 5lb rise.
Ruddy Article (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up mid-division, one pace from 3 out, no impression, lost 3rd place towards finish, 4th of 7, 11 1/2l behind Miss Serious (11-12) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gf in Jul.
For 'n' Against (IRE) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 11th, not fluent next, plugged on from 3 out, no impression, 5th of 12, 24 1/4l behind Bincombe (11-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
What Happens Now (IRE) 7-4 (11-5) Made all, mistake 3rd, ridden before last, held on well, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (4) gf in May beating Nortonthorpelegend (10-11) by 2 1/4l, 4 ran.
Steps And Stairs (IRE) 4-1jfav (11-3) Held up, ridden and weakened before 14th, pulled up before 4 out, at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Zayfire Aramis 5-1 (12-3) Never jumped with any fluency in rear and made some mistakes, well behind from 8th, pulled up before 11th, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (5) gd in Jul.
Dusk Till Dawn (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Towards rear, struggling 11th, 6th of 12, 26 1/2l behind Bincombe (11-9) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Queen Spud 6-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 3 out, no impression on winner, just failed to get 2nd, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Schindler's Prince (10-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Jul.
Spillers Dream (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led 4 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 15, 3 3/4l behind Tir Dubh (10-7) at Worcester 2m 7f mdn (4) gd in Jul.