mistakes, in touch when 2nd briefly 3 out, 2 lengths 3rd when left 2nd 2 out, weakened last
held up, jumped slowly 6th, fell 7th
held up, ridden after 9th, no impression from 11th
held up, hit 7th, ridden 8th, behind from 10th
tracked leader, led 4 out, joined when fell 2 out
led to 4 out, challenging when left in lead 2 out, driven out
held up, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 4th, hampered 7th, soon ridden, behind when pulled up 11th
chased leaders, outpaced from 13th, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner
With Ho Ho Hill having franked the form of Party Games, Gary Moore's gelding gets the vote to follow up his recent Wincanton success, with Jivaty and Murat rated the main dangers. The selection was showing improved form over fences from his previous attempt over the larger obstacles at Wincanton and is set to go up a further 2lbs in future handicaps following Ho Ho Hill's subsequent success. He looks the one they all have to beat. Jivaty has found one too good in each of his last two starts and is again expected to be thereabouts but may, once again, have to settle for a minor role. Reviewer did not beat a great deal when landing a beginners' chase at Wincanton last time and this looks tougher so of more interest may be Chepstow winner Solve It Sober, although he has to race from out of the weights proper. The handicapper has given Murat a chance on his debut over fences and Martin Pipe's gelding cannot be discounted but Party Games has an obvious chance and gets the vote.
Party Games (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Always prominent, led 11th, headed 13th, challenged leader 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, kept on, won at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (E) gd beating Ho Ho Hill (11-3) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Lough Rynn (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, struggling from 10th, tailed off, 7th of 9, 37l behind Duncliffe (11-12) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (C) gs in Dec.
Reviewer (IRE) 11-4 (11-2) Held up, pushed along from 6th, ridden and headway 3 out, led soon after 2 out, ran on well, won at Wincanton 2m beg chs (D) gd in Mar beating Forever Dream (11-2) by 8l, 6 ran.
Jivaty (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Always prominent, left 2nd 4 out, chance when hung right approaching last, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Hold On Harry (10-11) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (E) gf.
Murat (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Took keen hold, prominent in chasing group, effort after 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 4th of 10, 25l behind Transit (11-3) at Sandown 2m amt hcp hdl 0-115 (E) gs in Mar.
Anshabil (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) In touch, ridden and weakened after 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Rift Valley (10-13) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Mantilla 5-1 (10-2) Held up in touch, outpaced from 11th, 4th of 6, 32l behind Catch The Perk (9-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Aug.
Solve It Sober (IRE) 8-1 (10-3) Held up, headway 12th, tracked leader from next, led approaching 4 out, edged left flat, ran on well, won at Chepstow 3m sll hcp chs 0-95 (G) gs in Apr beating Southerndown (11-3) by 1/2l, 14 ran.
