tracked leader, not fluent 4th, lost 2nd 6th, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 7th, not fluent 10th, struggling next, pulled up before 3 out
in touch in mid-division, not fluent 4th, headway after 11th, every chance 3 out, weakened last
tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd until 5th and again from 6th, led after 11th, headed after 3 out, weakened next
held up in rear, mistake 9th, headway after 11th, challenged 2 out, led before last, soon clear, easily
in touch in mid-division, weakened 11th, pulled up before 3 out
prominent, went 2nd 5th until 6th, not fluent 8th, challenged 3 out, soon led, headed before last, no chance with winner, stayed on same pace
mid-division on outside, outpaced from 9th, no impression after
behind from 4th, pulled up before 8th
led, took keen hold, headed after 11th, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last
held up towards rear, mistake 5th, pecked 7th, behind 10th
CHAPOTURGEON won this last year for the Barbers before going on to finish an unlucky second behind Salsify in the Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham and third in a valuable handicap at Aintree. He's favoured by the weights again and a clear round should see the grey back in the winner's enclosure. Rumbury Grey has won four of his last five under Rules but, like Silver Story, will struggle to give weight to the selection and Shootin The Breeze may be out of his depth. Promising Anshan had Big Game Hunter eight lengths adrift when runner-up at Chaddesley Corbett last month but would need to improve on that points form to land this.
Rumbury Grey 15-2 (11-10) Chased leader, led 15th, ridden and joined 2 out, soon driven and came clear well before last, won at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (2) gd in Jun beating Monkerty Tunkerty (11-10) by 11l, 16 ran.
Shootin The Breeze (IRE) 9-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, jumped badly left 2nd, 5th halfway, ridden into 3rd 2 out, no extra in 4th last, kept on same pace, 4th of 12, 16l behind Hold Em Cowboy (9-7) at Navan 2m 1f hcp chs 0-116 in Mar.
Silver Story 3-1 (12-1) Held up, left 3rd 4th, closed 7th, went 2nd approaching 14th, led before 3 out, clear from next, eased flat, won at Aintree 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd in May beating Metal Detector (11-7) by 8l, 6 ran.
Trafalgar Road (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Led, mistake 5th, headed after 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 13, well behind Our Mick (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec '11.
Chapoturgeon (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) In rear, headway 13th, one pace and went 4th before 2 out, went 3rd flat, no impression, 3rd of 14, 17l behind Saint Are (10-13) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Kikos (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Led until not fluent 2nd, not fluent 3rd, hampered next, ridden approaching 3 out, 5 lengths 6th when blundered and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Lucy's Legend (11-1) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
Promising Anshan (IRE) 8-11 (11-0) Ap; ev ch last; one pce, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Horsham Lad (11-0) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m ptp hvy in Dec.
Big Game Hunter (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Hdwy by-passing 8; chsd wnr 14-2 out; wknd app last, 3rd of 5, 9l behind Horsham Lad (11-0) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m ptp hvy in Dec.
Departed (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) in a race won by Medic (12-0) at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gd in Jun, 8 ran.
Extra Bold 3-1fav (10-12) Held up in rear, hit 7th, behind 9th, tailed off 12th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Willandrich (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr '11, 9 ran.
Tallanstown Boy (IRE) 33-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders on outside, not fluent 1st or 4th, ridden 9th, soon lost place, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Houblon Des Obeaux (11-0) at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gs in Oct, 10 ran.
