led headed 10th, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, no impression with front pair from next, lost 3rd near finish
held up mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, weakened from next, tailed off
towars rear, struggling 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before next
tracked leaders, outpaced after 4 out, no impression from next
held up in touch on inside, hit 9th, lost place after 4 out, no impression before next
always prominent on outside, challenged 4 out, led approaching next, stayed on well from 2 out
mid-division, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on well from last, never nearer
mid-division, reminder after 7th, under pressure when mistake 9th, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
prominent on inside, lost place and riddden after 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
in touch, driven and outpaced before 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms
held up behind, headway 4 out, soon chased leaders, disputed 3rd next, kept on same pace, no extra flat, never on terms
mid-division on outside, driven 9th, never on terms
tracked leaders, hit rail before 8th, lost place when not much room after 4 out, rallied approaching last, stayed on to take 3rd near finish, no impression with front pair
behind, some headway under pressure after 4 out, never near leaders
held up, always behind, tailed off 3 out
tracked leader, led 10th, headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression with winner in clear 2nd from next
Peter Bowen's record in handicap chases here at this time of year is second to none and he saddles both Al Co and Kian's Delight. Dover's Hill returns from a lengthy absence but is on a decent mark and will be ready for this while Bold Chief has won three out of three over fences, though this is easily his toughest task to date. GRANDADS HORSE jumps really well for a novice and did score over 2m4f here in May. The handicapper has given him a fighting chance in this off a mark of 137 and he should be thereabouts if getting the run of the race. The Disengager won this last year, beating Bobowen and Buck Mulligan, but he's 18lb higher now after beating stablemate Rob Conti in a similar race at Newton Abbot. Finger Onthe Pulse may find a few of these too quick nowadays but Wiesentraum is on an upward curve and King Of The Night could pick up a nice prize over the coming months if getting his act together and is more interesting than Twirling Magnet and Emma Lavelle's pair Bouggler and Well Regarded.
The Disengager (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Made all, jumped slightly right at times and more markedly 8th, not fluent 10th, ridden before 2 out, driven and stayed on well, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Aug beating Rob Conti (9-12) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Twirling Magnet (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 12th, went 3rd 2 out, soon switched right, not fluent last, no extra flat, 5th of 11, 7l behind The Disengager (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Aug.
Bobowen (IRE) 7-1 (11-7) Mid-division, mistake 6th, headway approaching 4 out, 6th and no extra 2 out, 8th of 11, 13l behind The Disengager (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Aug.
Bold Chief (IRE) 8-15fav (11-12) Jumped well, made all, 1 length ahead when left well clear 2 out, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) gf in Aug beating Golden Squirell (11-2) by 40l, 4 ran.
Grandads Horse 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, went 2nd 11th, hit next, lost 2nd briefly before 13th, led 15th, going strongly when hit 3 out, clear when shaken up before last, comfortably, won at Southwell 3m nov chs (4) gd in Jul beating Sail And Return (10-12) by 7l, 5 ran.
Bouggler 40-1 (11-6) Behind, struggling 3 out, never dangerous, 21st of 24, well behind Holywell (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m lstd hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Al Co (FR) 50-1 (11-0) Mid-division, jumped right 1st, headway 6th, went 2nd 2 out, every chance last, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 22, 7l behind Trackmate (11-1) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Dover's Hill 20-1 (10-11) Led, headed 15th, chased leader until approaching 18th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 19, 42l behind Tidal Bay (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Apr '12.
Owen Glendower (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, took keen hold, ridden to go 3rd before 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 5, 16l behind Mumbles Head (11-7) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs in Jul.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Chased leader, led soon after 4 out, ridden and headed last, stayed on same pace flat, held on for 2nd, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Wiesentraum (10-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Aug.
King Of The Night (GER) 8-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, mistake next, headway after 5 out, jumped right from 4 out, weakened 2 out, 8th of 14, 29l behind Fairy Rath (10-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Well Regarded (IRE) 5-2 (10-12) Held up, ridden in 5th approaching 13th, staying on when badly hampered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Victor Leudorum (10-12) at Ascot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Kian's Delight 3-1fav (10-11) Held up in touch, lost place 7th, pushed along in rear 12th, went 7th 2 out, no impression on leaders, 6th of 11, 8l behind The Disengager (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Aug.
Wiesentraum (GER) 3-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders in 4th, dropped to 5th at 10th, 3rd after 4 out, 2nd before next, ridden to lead last, driven out, won at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Aug beating Finger Onthe Pulse (10-13) by 1l, 6 ran.
Buck Mulligan 4-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 5 out, left challenging 3 out, led narrowly last, soon headed, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Sergeant Pink (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Rob Conti (FR) 8-1 (9-12) Always prominent, mistake 10th, switched right after 3 out, edged left after 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression on winner, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind The Disengager (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Aug.
