held up towards rear, reminders after 12th, tracked leaders approaching 4 out, one pace from 2 out
mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, every chance and challenged 2 out, led last, kept on well
early reminders in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
prominent, took close order 14th, led next, headed last, no extra
made most until headed 4 out, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
always towards rear
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
held up mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, tracked leaders 4 out, weakened approching 2 out
disputed lead until pushed along and lost place approaching 13th
Another decent chase on the card, this time for the stayers, and SKIPPERS BRIG may well be capable of finding what is necessary to win this, while Stolen Moments and That's Rhythm look worth plenty of respect. The selection was well placed by Nicky Richards to win three of his four chases last season, and he loves cut in the ground. He proved his stamina over this far when last seen at Newcastle in February, and has probably not stopped improving. That's Rhythm got rid of a case of seconditis when a comfortable scorer over course and distance on good ground in March. He was then highly tried in the Scottish National but fell heavily there and it remains to be seen if he is over that, and whether he will act on this ground. Osolomio acts in these conditions, but may not get home over this far, while both Just Smudge and Mistress Nell may be in the grip of the handicapper. Stolen Moments has trip and ground to his liking and has slipped to just 1lb above his last winning mark, so with the yard going well he could go close. Nicto De Beauchene has been put up 9lbs for a Uttoxeter win in March and tends to need a run, while Machu Picchu makes his debut for Jonjo O'Neill, and has a couple of French provincial wins to his name. He acts with cut and is stepped up in trip for this, and market support would be interesting, though we'll side with Skippers Brig.
Skippers Brig (IRE) 10-11fav (11-6) Held up, blundered 13th, outpaced 5 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on to lead last, all out, won at Newcastle 3m nov chs (2) hvy in Feb beating Dream Garden (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
That's Rhythm (FR) 9-1 (10-7) Mid-division when fell 20th, in a race won by Hello Bud (10-9) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 17 ran.
Mount Benger 40-1 (11-3) Always in rear, tailed off, 11th of 13, well behind Poquelin (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf in Oct.
Stolen Moments (FR) 20-1 (10-5) Prominent, every chance 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 9th of 17, 27l behind Russian Around (10-9) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Nicto De Beauchene (FR) 12-1 (10-10) Chased leader, left in lead 12th, drawing clear when mistake 3 out, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Mar beating Andrew Nick (11-3) by 12l, 9 ran.
Osolomio (IRE) 9-4 (10-12) Made all, driven and held on gamely from last, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov stks (4) gd in Apr beating Mizen Raven (10-12) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Just Smudge 11-4fav (10-12) Led until 4th, tracked leader, led 11th, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened approaching last, 4th of 7, 15l behind Soubriquet (10-9) at Bangor 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Apr.
Mistress Nell 3-1fav (10-13) Chased leader to 12th, weakened 4 out, took moderate 4th last strides, 4th of 8, 20l behind Zacharova (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
Machu Picchu (FR) (10-10) won at La-Roche-Posay(FR) 2m 5f chs gd in Sep '07, 5 ran.
Cannon Fire (FR) 12-1 (10-10) Prominent, lost place 7th, soon pulled up and tailed off, in a race won by Dance Island (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft, 10 ran.
