made most, clear when jumped right last 3 fences, driven out flat
chased leaders on outside, lost place 4th, not fluent and last 6th, behind 10th, pulled up before 4 out
led into start, held up, 4th from 10th, outpaced before 4 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, driven 10th, well behind from 12th
tracked leaders, pressing for 2nd 4 out, carried right 3 out and 2 out, no extra when jumped right last, weakened flat
took keen hold, tracked leaders, struggling 10th, well behind from 12th, mistake 4 out
tendency to jump right, led or disputed lead, jumped right 4 out, no impression on winner from next, stayed on flat
Nonrunner
Robert's Star makes his fencing bow but hails from a yard renowned for its work with chasers and the six-year-old has already won a hurdle here. Kerisper has won a point-to-point and a maiden hurdle and is rated 127 over the smaller obstacles having finished a close-up fifth in a Class 2 race at Cheltenham in April. Minella Daddy is rated a pound higher and has always looked the type to well over fences but we are going to stick with the experience of SOUTHFIELD VIC, who won a similar contest over track and trip in May by 27 lengths and was conceding almost a stone to Minella Daddy when behind that one over timber at Haydock earlier.
Southfield Vic (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led before next, clear when jumped right and not fluent last, easily, won at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gd in May beating Fort Worth (10-12) by 25l, 4 ran.
Hardtorock (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Chased leaders until 4 out, soon weakened, 12th of 15, dist behind Better Days (11-8) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in May.
High Counsel (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway before 4 out, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 11, 30 1/2l behind Mister Dick (10-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Irish Octave (IRE) 15-2 (10-1) Held up behind, chased leaders before 8th, ridden after 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on to take modest 3rd last, 3rd of 11, 21l behind It's Oscar (10-11) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gs in Jul.
Kerisper (FR) 20-1 (10-5) Prominent until 1st, chased leaders, ridden and every chance last, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 16, 3 3/4l behind Matorico (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Milburn 20-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 4th, weakened 5th, tailed off and pulled up, at Newton Abbot 2m 6f (4) gs in Jul.
Minella Daddy (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, 3rd and one pace before last, stayed on final 100 yards, went 2nd close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 15, 5l behind Whataknight (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
Robert's Star (IRE) 13-8 (11-5) Led until 5th, chased winner after, ridden before 3 out, well held by winner from next, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Vintage Vinnie (10-12) at Worcester 2m 7f (4) gd in Sep.
