held up 4th and last, mistake 2nd, lost touch 7th, mistake 9th, soon tailed off, left remote 3rd before last
made most, jumped slowly and headed briefly 8th, headed before 13th, rallied 2 out, outpaced in clear 2nd between last 2, no chance with winner before last
disputed lead, lead briefly 8th, led before 13th, drew clear before last, eased right down towards finish
tracked leading pair, outpaced 10th, soon no chance with front pair, remote 3rd when pulled up before last
Rollwiththepunches is bred to be a chaser and should have benefited from an outing at Aintree but BESCOT SPRINGS has already won here and at Kelso this year and will find this easier than the Cheltenham race he contested last time. He gets the vote ahead of City Of Doral, who won over a longer trip here in June before scoring at Sligo and has plenty of experience. Edge Of Town looked a very promising staying hurdler the season before last and is closely related to useful Irish hunter chaser Charlie Lenihan. He's sure to have had plenty of schooling over the larger obstacles and still has plenty of scope so could be one for the future.
Rollwiththepunches 16-1 (11-5) In rear, struggling 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Rumble Of Thunder (11-5) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct, 11 ran.
Bescot Springs (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, mistake 14th, no impression on leaders from 3 out, 6th when fell last, in a race won by Swing Bill (11-1) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Nov, 13 ran.
Edge of Town (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, joined winner 6th, jumped right 2 out, every chance last, ridden and no extra flat, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Whats Up Woody (11-10) at Carlisle 3m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar '10.
City of Doral 33-1 (9-7) Towards rear, no threat from 4 out, 11th of 25, 35l behind Groody Hill (10-3) at Navan 3m hcp chs 0-150 sft in Nov.
