in rear, pushed along before 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along and weakened after 5 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 5 out, in 3rd and no extra before last
made all, ridden before last, kept on, driven out
in touch in 4th, ridden after 5 out, ridden before 2 out, chased winner before last, kept on and held near finish
tracked leader, reminders before 5 out, weakened before 4 out
The penalised Minella Web and Caspian Piper were both wide-margin winners last time. But the former had little to beat and now carries a welter burden while the latter may not be suited by this easier surface. The run of Patricktom Boru in the opener will be a pointer to the chances of Louis Phillipe, who was beaten six lengths here last time, but we prefer HEURTEVENT. Running for the first time over fences in the country, Tony Carroll's French import beat Moonlight Maggie by seven lengths at Towcester and the runner-up boosted the form at Southwell on Tuesday. Zama Zama runs his best races here but will almost certainly find at least one too good again.
Minella Web (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) In touch, tracked leaders after 5 out, went 2nd next, led 3 out, hard pressed when left clear last, ridden out, won at Worcester 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in May beating The Kvilleken (11-2) by well, 14 ran.
Heurtevent (FR) 16-1 (11-6) Held up in last trio, headway 4 out, tracking leaders going well next, 2nd approaching 2 out, led between last 2, in command when went left last, driven out, won at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in May beating Moonlight Maggie (11-3) by 7l, 9 ran.
Zama Zama 11-4fav (11-3) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, never on terms, 4th of 7, 10l behind Waddingtown Hero (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m 3f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Caspian Piper (IRE) 2-1fav (10-2) Prominent, led 9th, clear before 4 out, easily, won at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in May beating Noble Witness (11-7) by 13l, 9 ran.
Louis Phillipe (IRE) 6-1 (10-10) With leader, led 8th, mistake next, not fluent and headed 10th, led again after 5 out, hard pressed after 3 out, headed when not fluent last, no impression flat, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Patricktom Boru (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in May.
Celtic Fella (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Held up in touch, went 2nd before 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 7, 34l behind Ballyegan (9-7) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp 0-100 (5) gs in Nov.
