made all, ridden 2 out, joined last, driven and stayed on flat
held up in touch, effort and jump right 3 out, weakened before next
tracked leaders, chased winner from 3 out, upsides and every chance when jumped right last, found no extra, flat
chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 5th and no chance when blundered last
mistakes, keen hold and held up last, lost touch 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
tended to jump right, chased winner, every chance 3 out, 3rd and weakening when fell next
keen hold in touch, headway approaching 3 out, ridden to challenege and every chance when mistake 2 out, one pace before last
Paul Nicholls string have generally looked to be in need of their first outing of the season so Le Volfoni may be best watched today and preference is for Bold Bishop, who gets the vote ahead of Dawton. The selection was a useful performer over hurdles and lost no caste in defeat on his chasing bow behind the Philip Hobbs-trained Unleash, who could prove to be a decent recruit to the novice chasing ranks. Sure to come on for the run, he looks the one they all have to beat. Flying Spirit was not as good over hurdles as the selection and would not be the most likely chaser on paper but is fit from the flat and comes from the Gary Moore yard that has to be respected. One Cornetto looks a better chaser than hurdler but may struggle under his penalty, while In Contrast is entitled to need the run on his first start since May. Dawton has shown enough to suggest that he can win races in this grade and has to be respected with race fitness on his side but Bold Bishop could be a chaser to follow this term and is taken to open his account over the larger obstacles today.
Flying Spirit (IRE) 13-8 (11-6) Always prominent, left 2nd 6th, mistake 4 out, soon ridden, hung left after 2 out, every chance flat, ran on, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Tigers Lair (11-12) at Stratford 2m 4f nov chs (D) gd in Jun.
One Cornetto (IRE) 4-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 4th, headway approaching 9th, chased winner 4 out, ridden and one pace, 2nd of 6, 8l behind Croix De Guerre (11-12) at Stratford 2m 1f nov chs (D) gf in Jul.
Bold Bishop (IRE) 10-3 (10-12) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, ridden and jumped right 3 out, all out when headed close home, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Unleash (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f beg chs (E) gf in Aug.
In Contrast (IRE) 2-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 10, 25l behind Personal Assurance (11-2) at Southwell 2m 5f beg chs (E) gd in May '04.
Kings Brook 4-1fav (10-0) Held up, steady headway 7th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 12, 13l behind Magic Sky (11-2) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gf in Sept.
Milligan (FR) 50-1 (11-6) Led to 7th, led again after 9th until 3 out, weakened approaching last, 6th of 8, 5l behind Rooster's Reunion (11-6) at Ludlow 2m beg chs (E) gf.
Le Volfoni (FR) (10-5) 4th of 10, 7l behind Hunorisk (8-11) at Auteuil 2m 4f chs hvy in Jun.
Dawton (POL) 5-2 (11-4) Chased leader, led approaching 6th, mistake 7th and headed, ridden and weakened 3 out, last of 4, 32l behind Scalloway (10-12) at N Abbot 2m nov chs (C) gd in Aug.
