led to 11th, chased leader, ridden and lost place 4 out, weakening when hampered next
held up in touch, headway approaching 4 out, 3rd and in touch when fell next
always behind, tailed off when 3 out
held up in touch, pushed along 4 out, hampered and left 3rd next weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, blundered 13th, challenged when mistake 4 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well flat
keen early, blundered badly 10th, headway when mistake 15th, kept on to go poor 3rd 2 out
tracked leader, led 11th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure to chase winner flat
Ardent Scout unseated his rider at the ninth fence in Aintree's Beecher Chase last time and is worth another chance off his current mark in a race where Rosie Redman and River Marshal look to be the main dangers. The selection had shown signs of a return to form when collared close home by Howard Johnson's Grattan Lodge at Carlisle previously and off a 5lb higher mark than on that occasion the 12-year-old still looks to be well treated. Grattan Lodge's trainer is represented here by former Irish pointer Fields Of Home, who is strictly held by Rosie Redman on novice form last season but showed improved form subsequently before disappointing when last seen in May. She has to be respected and is open to further improvement after just four starts under rules but the memory of her latest outing is of concern and a bigger threat may come from River Marshal. The six-year-old sprung a surprise when beating Sonevafushi at Fakenham last week and looks well treated for his debut in a handicap judged by that effort. Kim Bailey's string has yet to hit form so Moreluck is probably best watched, while Strong Magic seems to be plenty high enough in the weights now having gone up 8lbs since his Southwell success. Ardent Scout might not have much improvement in him but is well in on his old form and having shown signs of a revival of that at Carlisle is taken to go one better here.
