made all, clear from 11th, unchallenged
tracked winner throughout, mistake 13th, ridden next, weakened 4 out
held up, ridden, no impression from 13th
never a factor, behind from 12th
tracked clear leading pair, not jumped well, blundered 13th, soon ridden, weakened, behind when bad mistake 3 out, soon pulled up
held up, pecked 5th, chased leading pair from 11th, kept on to challenge for 2nd, but not reach
always behind, lost touch 5th, pulled up before 14th
Yes Sir has leading claims and can keep the sequence going, with Amicelli and River Bailiff the two to chase him home. Trainer Peter Bowen has been in terrific form of late, with Yes Sir adding to his haul by grabbing the Market Rasen Summer Plate in emphatic fashion, leading from start to finish. That was the gelding's sixth successive victory over fences, and this race looked the obvious target to keep the run going. All ground seems to come alike for this game animal who should once again gallop his rivals into the ground under Richard Johnson who rode him to score at Stratford the time before last. With Johnson on the favourite, Tom O'Brien gets the leg up on Amicelli, a progressive hurdler whose relative inexperience over fences may well prove his undoing against such a battle-hardened rival. River Bailiff had fair hunter-chase form but needs to reach another level to trouble the aforementioned pair, while the rest make no appeal whatsoever. Yes Sir is a class act and can prove the point once again here.
Yes Sir (IRE) 3-1fav (10-10) Made all, quickened 8th, drew clear after 4 out, mistake last, eased flat, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f lst hcp chs (1) gf in Jul beating Ballycassidy (11-12) by 6l, 14 ran.
Amicelli (GER) 3-1 (11-11) Held up in touch, not fluent 4th, went 2nd and hit 10th, mistake 11th, led when mistake 2 out, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Jockser (11-1) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in May.
River Bailiff (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) In rear and not fluent 1st, headway 10th, ridden 3 out, chased winner 2 out, always held, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Longstone Lady (10-9) at N Abbot 2m 5f chs 0-90 (5) gd.
Dun Aengus 25-1 (12-0) Mid-div til fell at the 11th in race won by Pimlico (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp gf in May, 11 ran.
The Risky Viking (IRE) (12-0) 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Andiamo (12-0) at Ballynoe 3m ire ptp sft in Apr.
Explosive Fox (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) In touch, badly hampered 3rd, lost place 12th, 4th of 9, 18l behind Inch Pride (10-7) at Stratford 2m 7f nov chs (4) gf in Jun.
Lady L'orelei 40-1 (9-12) Chased leaders to 7th, behind when mistake 8th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Kings Brook (10-12) at Worcester 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd, 8 ran.
