fell 1st
in rear when hamperred 1st, always well behind
held up, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
held up, hit 5th, driven along after 7th, progress 11th, no impression on leaders from 4 out
held up, progress 11th, weakened 4 out
held up, not fluent 9th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up after next
brought down 1st
hampered 1st, headway 9th, ridde approaching 3 out, chased winner 2 out, stayed on one pace flat but no impression
held up, blundered 4th, always in rear
chased leading pair, went 2nd after 7th, led 3 out, stayed on well
with leader until 6th, jumped slowly 11th and soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, behind from 7th, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
chased leading pair, outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on one pace after 2 out
led at good pace, pecked 8th, headed and hit 3 out, weakened approaching last
soon well behind
Theocritus, Cheeky Lad and Lysander are the three shortlisted here with Lysander nominated to follow up a success last time. Theocritus took a handicap hurdle at Haydock off a mark of 107 and is fitter after two decent efforts in handicap chases, where he ran respectably. he will need to improve on those efforts though to take this but should be fully fit now. Cheeky Lad won three handicap chases in good style, the first two very impressively, before a combination of a rise in the weights and a rise in class found him out at Kempton. He is taking on lesser opponents here but may just find the weight concession too much. Lysander won over hurdles at Chepstow in April and won a novices' chase at Hexham last time in tenacious fashion, staying on well in the closing stages. That was a very good debut over the bigger obstacles, and given that he should improve for the experience and this testing course should see him to good effect, Lysander has a good chance of following up.
Cheeky Lad 8-1 (10-0) Prominent, ridden and gradually faded from 9th, 9th of 11, 30l behind Crossbow Creek (11-10) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd.
Lysander (GER) 3-1fav (11-6) In touch, headway 2 out, ridden flat, led close home, won at Hexham 2m nov chs (4) gd beating Geton (11-6) by a shd, 11 ran.
Adelphi Theatre (USA) 14-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 3rd of 7, 8l behind John Diamond (11-7) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
Theocritus (GER) 3-1 (10-4) Took keen hold, held up, not fluent 2nd, mistake 7th, chased winner after 8th, jumped right from 4 out and no impression, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Cheeky Lad (9-13) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Sept.
Ice Bucket (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Took keen hold, tracked leader to 3 out, weakened soon after, no chance when, 5th of 13, 30l behind What A Vintage (10-5) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (E) sft in Dec.
Buffers Lane (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) With leader, led 3rd, headed 6th, outpaced approaching 2 out, 3rd of 6, 24l behind Mr Shambles (10-9) at Market Rasen 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft.
River Ripples (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Held up, headway 6th, ridden and weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Extra Smooth (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcp hdl (3) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Liberty Ben (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Rear, steady progress from 5th, stayed on but never troubled leaders, 4th of 15, 28l behind Haloo Baloo (11-0) at Exeter 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Mar.
Charming Fellow (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 5th, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 13, 21l behind Enlightenment (11-0) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (4) gs.
Notanotherdonkey (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Never a danger, 3rd of 8, 12l behind Nazimabad (11-2) at Hereford 2m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Gondolin (IRE) 9-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, led 2nd, ridden and headed approaching last, rallied flat, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind Black Rainbow (11-2) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Aug.
Rich Song (IRE) 15-2 (11-0) In touch, mistake 12th, weakened 15th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kerstino Two (11-10) at Ludlow 3m amt hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf, 6 ran.
Kercabellec (FR) 7-1 (10-12) Led, soon clear, when ran out at the 8th in race won by Herecomestanley (11-5) at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd, 9 ran.
Lake Imperial (IRE) 9-2 (10-12) Made virtually all and keen hold, all out when headed close home, 2nd of 15, 1l behind Secret Squirrel (10-10) at Hereford 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (5) gf.
Reflex Blue 20-1 (10-1) Tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 12th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 12, 23l behind Terramarique (11-1) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Sept.
