in touch, chased leading trio 4th, 3rd at 7th, every chance 3 out, weakened before
chased leading pair until not fluent and ridden 7th, weakened from 4 out, poor 5th when blundered last
chased leading trio until 4th, 5th and well there when fell 6th
held up in rear until fell 6th
hit 2nd always behind, last and struggling 8th, tailed off
chased leader, led 7th, joined 4 out, headed soon after next, driven before 2 out, no extra last
led, reached at 5th, blundered and headed 7th, blundered next, went left 9th, soon weakened and hit 4 out, tailed off and eased
raced on inner, held up towards rear, headway 6th, went 2nd 8th, challenged and hit 4 out, led soon after next, driven and in command when hit last, stayed on well flat
held up towards rear, slightly hampered 6th, headway 4 out, disputing modest 4th 3 out, staying on same pace when when went left next, kept on flat
held up in last trio, badly hampered and unseated rider 6th
Rivaliste was a winner on this card last year and is the first port of call following a satisfactory return behind a very well handicapped winner at Cheltenham. He can make mistakes though so preference is for MATUHI who got it right on the first time of asking for David Pipe and may now prove capable of making the progression that he has threatened in the past. Aigle D'or's efforts last season looked too bad to be true and he's very well handicapped on his form over hurdles if putting it all together whilst First Point has been dropped a couple of pounds which well help his cause. Call Me A Legend impressed on her chase bow but has been off since whilst Peplum is very well handicapped if rejuvenated by a change of scene and Suntini has obvious claims.
First Point (GER) 11-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, pushed along and hit 4th, soon lost place, weakened from 4 out, tailed off, 11th of 12, well behind Overturn (10-7) at Ayr 2m Ltd hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Passato (GER) 66-1 (10-1) Mid-division, hard driven approaching 4 out, soon lost place, 11th of 18, well behind Little Josh (10-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gs.
Rivaliste (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Chased leaders, pecked and slightly hampered 3 out, ridden and unable to quicken before next, stayed on to well held 3rd flat, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Dave's Dream (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Perce Rock 25-1 (11-3) Took keen hold in rear, pushed along before 6th, soon outpaced and struggling in rear, last of 11, well behind Dave's Dream (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Suntini (GER) Evensfav (11-6) Tracked winner until mistake 7th and again approaching 3 out, ridden after 2 out, no impression flat, 2nd of 4, 3 1/2l behind Line Artic (10-7) at Kempton 2m nov chs (2) gd in Mar.
Matuhi 15-8fav (11-2) Led, narrowly headed 11th, led again 3 out, clear next, comfortable, won at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs beating Five Dream (11-7) by 9l, 4 ran.
Fighting Chance (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, hit 3 out, soon beaten, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Sunday City (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Aigle D'or 16-1 (10-1) Always towards rear, 15th of 24, well behind Great Endeavour (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Call Me A Legend 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 5th, made rest, driven clear approaching last, stayed on well, won at Ascot 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft in Jan beating Lordsbridge (10-13) by 9l, 7 ran.
Peplum (FR) 20-1 (10-0) Always towards rear, completely tailed off, 13th of 19, well behind Wins Now (11-7) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs 0-123 gf in Jul.
