held up towards rear but in touch, blundered badly 9th, soon remiders, fell next
held up towards rear but in touch, with leader 10th, led approaching 2 out, jumped right last, just held on
tracked leaders, towards rear and hampered 10th, blundered 4 out, soon weakened
led and jumped left, headed after 9th, chasing leaders when blundered badly and jumped left and unseated rider 10th
tracked leader, jumped slow 1st, led after 9th, pushed along and headed approaching and mistake 2 out, soon weakened
held up in touch on outer, chased leaders 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, stayed towards finish just failed
Nonrunner
The Philip Hobbs-trained Pistolet Dove won well at Leicester in December but has struggled against the handicapper since then and is likely to do so again today in a race taken to go to RILEYEV, who gets the vote ahead of Prince Louis. Charlie Mann's gelding just got the better of Pistolet Dove at Plumpton last month and there should not be much to choose between the pair today on the revised terms so he has to be respected. Oliver Sherwood's Champtho looked beaten before unseating his rider on his chasing debut at Leicester last month but is lightly raced and open to improvement, while Don McCain's Macdougal has given little sign of encouragement from admittedly limited opportunities. Nigel Tinkler's Lord Collingwood has been running consistently well and has place claims but a better bet looks to be Rileyev. Trained by Venetia Williams, who has her string in good form, the five year-old has slipped to a decent mark for his fourth start in a handicap over fences and he looks worth chancing in a race that should not take a great deal of winning.
Pistolet Dove (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up in 3rd behind furious pace of leading pair, ridden and struggling 5 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Prince Des Marais (11-4) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Champtho (FR) 10-3 (11-12) Prominent, every chance 4 out, 3rd and weakening when blundered badly and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Tooka (11-2) at Leicester 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Rileyev (FR) 6-1 (11-8) Prominent until 1st, tracked leaders on outside, hit 11th, weakened from 2 out, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Porta Vogie (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Prince Louis (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Led, jumped left throughout, headed approaching last, rallied under pressure, stayed on gamely to lead flat, won at Plumpton 2m 4f 5yo nov hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Pistolet Dove (11-6) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Macdougal (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Mid-division on inside, driven 4 out, never reached leaders, 8th of 16, 40l behind Cool Mission (11-7) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Lord Collingwood (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 8th, went 2nd after 3 out until approaching 2 out, soon held in 3rd, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Chicago Alley (10-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs.
Varekai (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders and keen, blundered 4th, soon mid-division, weakened from 10th, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind Rexmehead (10-6) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
