in touch in mid-division, pushed along after 7th, headway approaching 3 out, weakened next
prominent, led after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, went left when strongly pressed last, headed flat, held close home
held up in rear, blundered and weakened 3 out
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 7th, close 3rd when not much room last, led flat, stayed on well
mid-division, headway 8th, ridden to challenge when hampered 2 out, edged left flat, held towards finish
held up in rear, took keen hold, hung left and weakened after 3 out
prominent, not fluent 6th, ridden when hit 3 out, soon weakened
led, ridden 8th, headed after 3 out, no extra flat
It's no surprise to see Whispering Jack back over hurdles after he failed to take to fences at Fakenham, while There And Then looked to be improving when last seen in the spring. Turtlethomas still has plenty of scope and Kasbadali stepped up on previous efforts when landing a novice event at Ludlow in May and makes more appeal than plater Heir To Be. But this could go to CAUSING CHAOS, who showed plenty of promise a year ago but hasn't been seen since pulling up on soft ground here in December. Fitness is rarely an issue for his yard's runners and he may well be better handicapped than today's rivals.
Turtlethomas (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Prominent, jumped path after 6th, led when mistake 9th, soon headed, weakened last, 3rd of 12, 20l behind Ely Brown (10-8) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Whispering Jack 11-4 (11-3) In rear, mistake 9th, behind next, pulled up soon after 11th, in a race won by Bottman (11-3) at Fakenham 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Oct, 6 ran.
There And Then 4-1 (11-5) Led, ridden after 2 out, joined last, soon headed, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind The Strawberry One (11-5) at Towcester 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Kasbadali (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway approaching 3rd, challenged over 4f out, led over 2f out, clear final furlong, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Blue Monster (10-12) by 16l, 10 ran.
Causing Chaos (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Prominent, ridden after 6th, soon lost place, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Grafite (11-1) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 17 ran.
Sandynow (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, mistake and reminders 9th, jumped slowly 13th, soon outpaced, weakened after 3 out, jumped left 2 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, 46l behind Squadron (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gs in Feb.
Himrayn 16-1 (11-1) In touch, not fluent and lost place 3rd, ridden 11th, mistake and weakened next, 9th of 10, well behind Benbane Head (11-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Sep.
Heir To Be 7-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced 7th, stayed on again from 3 out, went 2nd last, no chance with very easy winner, 2nd of 11, 10l behind My Brother Sylvest (12-1) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Oct.
