held up in rear, blundered 11th, steady headway next, went 3rd 4 out, challenged from 2 out, ridden and upsides last, every chance flat, held towards finish
soon in rear, mistake 8th, tailed off 11th, blundered last
held up in touch, hit 5th, headway and went 3rd 11th to next, blundered 13th and weakened soon after
chased leaders, mistake 10th, went 2nd 13th, led before 2 out, strongly pressed last, driven and kept on gamely to effort towards finish
led, blundered 9th, headed and weakened 13th, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out
chased leader to 9th, mistake and bumped 10th, weakened 12th
mistake and lost place 1st, pulled hard, in touch, chased leader 9th, hit 11th, still every chance 4 out, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off
With the trip likely to stretch the free-running The Local it is the ex-Irish CARE AND SHARE who is taken to carry top-weight to victory. Formerly trained by Christy Roche, the selection has some fair form over fences on good ground. A repeat of his third at Gowran Park in October would probably be enough to take this and he is expected to run well. Bell Rock has been in good form between the flags of late, including when second recently in a Cottenham contest. How strong that race was is hard to tell but he goes on the shortlist. Whizzaar is another who should be fit from some recent point-to-point outings and he has the ability to go well, as does Watership Down but we have not seen the gelding for ten months and he is passed over accordingly. Young Collier is not rated far off the selection and looks favourably treated at the weights. The drop in trip today will suit him as he looked tired when finishing second at Leicester recently and looking back on his old form, especially at Newbury in 2004/5 he looks a big danger. Not the most enticing race to finish with but the feeling is that Care And Share can oblige.
Care And Share (IRE) 8-1 (10-0) last of 8, well behind Operation Houdini (9-7) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs hvy in Oct.
Bell Rock 7-2 (11-0) (ts) led to 6 & 9 til hdd app 3 out; kpt on wl, 2nd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Scotland Yard (11-0) at Cottenham 3m ptp.
Watership Down (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Held up, headway 9th, close up next, chased leader 12th, led next, ridden 2 out, headed line, 2nd of 9, ns behind Bell Rock (11-3) at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (6) gd in May.
Whizzaar 2-1 (12-0) Led; clr 4 out; hdd last; no ex flat, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Rockwithacaveman (12-0) at Buckfastleigh 3m ptp.
The Local 12-1 (11-12) Led, hit 2nd, headed 3rd, soon pushed along, weakened from 5 out, 10th of 13, well behind Mcevoy (12-6) at Leicester 2m hts chs (6) gs.
Wings of Hope (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place 18th, behind when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Trust Fund (12-3) at Chepstow 3m 5f nov hts chs (5) gd, 20 ran.
Young Collier 14-1 (11-5) Chased leader, challenged 3 out, led approaching 2 out, headed flat, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Coolefind (12-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) gs.
