held up in last pair, closer in 3rd place at 10th, led 14th, clear 3 out, stayed on strongly
behind, gained a place at 8th, weakened 19th
led until after 5th, pressed leader, led again 8th until 10th, chased leaders, 2nd again after 4 out, pushed along and no chance with winner next, lost 2nd last 100 yards
tracked leaders, led after 5th until 8th, chased leader, led again 10th until hit 14th, chased leader until after 16th, 2nd again next until after 4 out, went 2nd again last 100 yards
chased leading trio until 5th, dropped to last at 8th, mistake 11th, struggling when blundered badly and eventually unseated rider next
chased leader until 5th, chased leading pair until 10th, went 2nd after 16th until jumped slowly next, chased leaders, hit 18th, weakened next
Sue Smith has farmed this marathon in recent years and SHARP RESPONSE can take advantage of this drop in class to give his trainer a fourth successive win in the race. He jumped well when landing a novice event here last year when the first two pulled well clear. Same Circus arrives off the back of a win at Bangor while Greyed A should stay having twice won over 3m2f at Fontwell. He was second on his reappearance at Hereford and will strip fitter today. Little Bruce will probably make the running and can’t be ignored but Vieux Lille appears to have deteriorated and Western Jo is in the veteran stage now.
Sharp Response (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Held up, headway 11th, outpaced after 14th, lost place 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, 4th of 11, 19l behind Daklondike (11-9) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
Same Circus (IRE) 11-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, chased leader 13th, ridden to lead last, ran on, won at Bangor 3m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Achille (10-11) by 3l, 7 ran.
Western Jo (IRE) 28-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, weakened 6 out, 6th of 8, 25l behind Didero Vallis (11-12) at Haydock 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Little Bruce (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Led until 6 out, led again before 4 out, headed approaching next, rallied and led again after 2 out, mistake last, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 6, 2l behind Skipthescales (11-0) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Vieux Lille (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) Led, headed 8th (water), in front again soon after, headed 4 out, chased leader until before next where mistake, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 11, 33 3/4l behind Chosen Path (11-7) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Dec.
Greyed A (IRE) 9-2jfav (11-13) Disputed lead until 6 out, rallied and every chance 3 out, kept on well under pressure, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 8l behind Bandon Roc (11-9) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp (4) sft in Dec.
