prominent, joined winner 5th to 8th, ridden and every chance approaching 3 out, weakened before next
held up, mistake 4th, tailed off when blundered 11th and last
prominent, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
made virtually all, ridden 2 out, all out
in touch, ridden to go second 2 out, every chance last, stayed on towards finish
Blunham Hill can beat Jongleur Collonges and Major Benefit, with his course and distance form making the difference. Apart from Buzybakson, the rest are all returning from breaks, some longer than others, but Blunham Hill should be fit enough. The six-year-old has more scope than his opponents, and can only get better over fences, having had just the two attempts so far. He broke his duck here in March when his abundant stamina came into play, and if things go right through the winter, we may see this fellow lining up in the four-miler at the Cheltenham Festival. Jongleur Collonges took on fair company over hurdles and shaped well on his chase debut at Lingfield last November. He is an out-and-out stayer by the looks of it, and will find this track just up his street, but will need the run. Major Benefit was pulled up in the four-miler at this year's Festival and is on the comeback trail along with Stand Easy whose last two outings were at Cheltenham and Aintree. Blunham Hill has conditions on his side here and it will be disappointing if he does not prove up to the task.
