held up in 4th, not fluent 5th and 8th, smooth headway to 3rd before 4 out, ridden and weakened soon after next, eased, tailed off
led to 2nd, chased leader, led going well 2 out, ridden last, headed and not quicken flat
took keen hold, led 2nd, driven before 3 out, narrowly headed 2 out, rallied gamely last, stayed on to lead flat
tracked leading pair, closed up 7th, mistake 11th, ridden and weakened 4 out, behind when blundered last, tailed off
held up in 5th, blundered 10th, no chance after, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
MASTER CHARM sets the standard and he can see off Putney Bridge and Ace High Blue. A winning hunter chaser, he was a little scrappy at Southwell when successful last week but the former Carl Llewellyn inmate is in the right hands to progress and he will not be troubled by stepping up in trip. Putney Bridge won a novice hurdle at Chepstow in decent style. If raced prominently, he is always a factor but his record over chase fences has not been the greatest. Ace High Blue is relatively unexposed though should be fit following two runs after a sizeable absence. Sea Cliff has been a disappointment of late though it would be folly to discount anything Tony McCoy is sat aboard. Michigan Assassin was beaten in plating company over hurdles and this switch to fences seems to smack a little of desperation. Master Charm has the winning habit and that is a good one to have,
Sea Cliff (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, soon towards rear, not fluent 8th, weakened 11th, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Circus Of Dreams (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov chs (4) gs in May.
Putney Bridge 11-10fav (11-10) Led until 3rd, remained prominent, led again 10th, jumped left next, headed 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Take A Mile (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Michigan Assassin (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Pulled hard in touch, stumbled 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 11, 18l behind Wild Tonto (11-10) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f clm hdl (5) gd in May.
Thewritinonthewall 25-1 (11-6) Soon chased leaders, closer in 8th before 5 out, no impression and kept on same pace straight, 8th of 14, 31l behind Kotkidy (10-8) at Killarney 2m 1f beg chs gd in May.
Ace High Blue (IRE) 11-4fav (11-12) Held up in rear, headway 6th, not fluent 9th, disputing 2nd when not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Randjo (11-1) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Master Charm (FR) 4-7fav (11-12) Tracked leading trio until blundered and dropped to last pair 4th, headway to 4th after 4 out, led before 2 out, stayed on well and in command last, won at Southwell 2m 5yo nov hcp (4) gd in May beating Weststern (11-6) by 7l, 7 ran.
