jumped right mostly, tracked leader, hit 9th, led 10th, ridden 4 out, headed approaching 3 out and weakened
held up, pecked 8th, steady headway 9th, chased winner 3 out, every chance last, no extra
held up and keen, mistake 6th, headway 10th, mistake 3 out, went 3rd next, held when jumping right last
in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
in rear and jumping not fluent, driven 8th, some progress 10th, plugged on
led, hit 9th, headed next, weakened and pulled up approaching 3 out
tracked leaders, lost place 2nd, ridden 5th and tailed off from 9th
A small field for this beginners' chase, with SERGHEYEV our nomination to get the better of Heathcote and Swordsman. The selection won't mind whatever cut in the ground there is, and is the consistent sort, but the drop down in trip will help on this is chasing debut. If taking to the fences, he can repay those who backed him at very short odds last time out. Heathcote has his first run out since may, when on his chasing debut unseated the jockey early on, but with more schooling behind him, he should be considered as having a chance. Swordsman has raced in more illustrious company over hurdles, and is another to make his chase debut. King's Signal is an interesting runner, after more than 600 days off the track, with some bits and pieces of form. It looks like it could be wide open, but we'll side with Sergheyev.
Devils River (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 13th of 16, 32l behind Kayf Keel (10-9) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs.
Divine Gift 50-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway 3 out, mistake when beaten last, 7th of 14, 20l behind French Opera (11-8) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Heathcote 5-4fav (11-0) Held up towards rear, blundered badly and unseated rider at the 4th in race won by Cape Greko (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m beg chs (4) gd in May, 8 ran.
Kings Signal (USA) 4-1 (11-8) Held up, headway 3 out, challenged 2 out, kept on well, 4th of 10, 3l behind Warningcamp (11-12) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Feb '07.
One of The Boys (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 33l behind Menchikov (11-0) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (E) gd in Nov '05.
Otage De Brion (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until blundered and lost place 5th, tended to jump left and no chance after, 6th of 11, 29l behind I'msingingtheblues (11-2) at Kempton 2m beg chs (3) gd in Oct.
Sergheyev 10-11fav (10-12) Led and soon clear, hit last, soon headed, weakened flat, 2nd of 11, 5l behind Border Reiver (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Swordsman (GER) 25-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 13th of 16, 22l behind Mirage Dore (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
