held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, soon under pressure, stayed on to go 2nd after last, no chance with winner
led, jumped right throughout, hit 10th, hard ridden and strongly challenged 4 out, headed next, weakened last, lost 2nd closing stages
held up in touch, lost place 4th, soon behind, tailed off 12th, pulled up 4 out
tracked leaders, lost place 10th, under pressure when fell 5 out
tracked leaders, jumped right throughout, weakened 5 out, remote 4th
tracked leaders, lost place before 7th, soon behind, remote 5th
in rear, under pressure 11th, soon behind, pulled up 4 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, led 3 out, ridden clear approaching last, ran on well
Ravethebrave was second over this C&D three outings ago but is 6lb higher now, while Flemish Invader has been put up 7lb for winning at Huntingdon earlier this month and may struggle to overturn earlier Ludlow running with MAX BYGRAVES on worse terms. Kim Bailey has a good record here with his chasers and this son of Midnight Legend looked as though his turn wasn't far away when runner-up over 3m last time. He has nothing to fear from Calusa Caldera on that run. Inside Dealer is holding his form well and is also worth a second look but Ray Mond and Emperor Concerto were both pulled up last time and are best watched today.
Ravethebrave (IRE) 2-1fav (11-6) Raced on inside, held up, steady headway to chase leading trio from 9th, went 2nd and not fluent 14th, ridden and no impression when hung right under pressure before 3 out, 2nd of 6, 15l behind Carrickmines (10-10) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb.
Ray Mond 10-1 (11-9) Led, jumped right and mistake 7th, tracked leader, mistake 10th, ridden and lost place 14th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Wellforth (10-5) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
Max Bygraves 4-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 15th, tracking leaders when hampered 4 out, stayed on to chase winner approaching last, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Isn't That Lucky (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Inside Dealer (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Tended to jump right, hit 2nd, chased leaders, blundered 13th, went 2nd again next, ridden one pace and no impression on winner when lost 2nd before last, kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 8, 7l behind Holmwood Legend (11-5) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Flemish Invader (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, not fluent 14th, left 2nd 3 out, led after 2 out, ran on strongly from last, pushed out, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs beating Mud Monkey (11-10) by 2 3/4l, 8 ran.
Special Occasion 8-1 (11-12) Reluctant never travelled in rear and hung left most of way, ridden along throughout, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, kept on well flat, went 4th final 50 yards and closed on one pace 3rd close home, 4th of 9, 16l behind Cottage Acre (10-11) at Newbury 2m 2f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gs.
Emperor Concerto 17-2 (11-5) Held up mid-division, headway approaching 11th, lost place 15th, in rear and pulled up soon after, in a race won by Peut Etre Sivola (10-4) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov, 10 ran.
Calusa Caldera (IRE) 9-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, mistake and reminders 11th, soon behind, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Isn't That Lucky (11-1) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
