held up behind leaders, chased winner 12th, stumbled slightly 4 out, 2 lengths 3rd and going all right when fell 2 out
led 2nd, ridden approaching 2 out, all out
led to 2nd, chased winner until 6th, last when blundered and unseated rider 8th
chased leading pair, went 2nd 6th until 12th, chased winner again approaching 3 out, every chance when outjumped last, ran on
Nonrunner
Chief Yeoman is on a retrieval mission and can bounce back by beating Pay Attention, Lankawi and A Toi A Moi. Chief Yeoman came a cropper three out in the Jewson at the Cheltenham Festival 10-days ago, but his cause was not helped when he was hampered a fence earlier. Prior to that, he had looked a most progressive sort when gaining back-to-back victories at Leicester and Huntingdon, and is given a quick chance to make amends here. He meets some equally in-form rivals, but should be up to giving weight away to them. Pay Attention appears to be the biggest danger in receipt of 11lb, and Tim Easterby's mare will certainly appreciate the going more so than at Kelso last time. In contrast, hat-trick seeking Lankawi seemed to relish the testing conditions on his last two starts, and might just be taken off his feet. A Toi A Moi was the only one of four that set out to finish in a beginners' chase at Taunton at the start of the month and will find this a bit tougher, so we return to the class horse Chief Yeoman as the confident choice.
A Toi A Moi (FR) 10-3 (11-3) Held up, joined leader 13th, led 4 out, left alone before 3 out, won at Taunton 2m 7f beg chs (4) sft beating Mibleu (11-0) by a , 4 ran.
Lankawi 11-8fav (11-3) Held up in touch, chased leaders 5th, led 3 out, ridden approaching last, driven out, won at Hexham 2m nov chs (3) sft beating Torkinking (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Lord Gunnerslake (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Chased leaders, ridden and behind from 9th, 7th of 9, 34l behind Alam (11-5) at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft.
Pay Attention 4-6fav (11-8) In touch, tracked winner 14th, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 4, 24l behind More Likely (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f mrs nov chs (4) hvy in Jan.
Chief Yeoman 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, hit 2nd, hampered 11th, well in touch when badly hampered 4 out, losing place when fell 3 out in race won by L'Antartique (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hcp chs (1) gs, 19 ran.
