tracked winner, every chance when slipped up just after landing 12th
jumped slightly left at times, made all, left well clear 12th, finished alone
in rear, went 3rd when mistake 9th, 6 lengths off leaders when fell 11th
tracked leaders, hit 6th, lost touch 9th, left remote 2nd 12th, refused last
tracked leaders, mistake 2nd, jumped left 4th, fell 8th
GROUSE LODGE, winner three times over hurdles this season and already successful between the flags, is likely to be a warm order for his first run over the larger obstacles under Rules. He should win but there are one or two promising types in this. Badgers Cove had a decent record over timber and will have needed his reappearance after a lay-off while Buddy Bolero is unexposed and won over hurdles at Folkestone a year ago, though hasn't been seen since. Moscow Mule has a bit of experience but also returns following a break, as does winning pointer Hilda Wild.
Badgers Cove (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Led narrowly, headed 6th, in touch, hit 8th, soon ridden, weakened from 3 out, 7th of 13, 24l behind Fred The Shred (10-3) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) hvy.
Grouse Lodge (IRE) 7-2 (11-5) Made all, jumped left 2nd, ridden after 3 out, stayed on gamely, won at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Nov beating Big Society (10-5) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Midnight Dove 33-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, reminders after 5th, lost place from next, tailed off 7th, 7th of 9, well behind On The Bridge (11-12) at Hereford 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
Moscow Mule 22-1 (10-9) Led, jumped slowly 1st, heade before 2nd, soon in rear, struggling from 6 out, tailed off, last of 4, 42l behind Shoegazer (11-0) at Hereford 3m 1f beg chase (5) hvy in May.
Hilda Wild 6-4 (11-7) 3rd of 4, 41l behind Wizard of Edge (12-0) at Kingston St Mary 3m ptp gs in Apr.
Breeogue Boy (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Took keen hold, led after 1st, hit 3rd, joined 3 out, soon ridden, headed before next, soon weakened, struggling in 4th when blundered 2 out, dropped to 5th last, tailed off, 5th of 6, well behind Rowan Road (10-0) at Kelso 3m 3f nov hcp hdl 0-100 (5) sft.
Buddy Bolero (IRE) 9-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 5th, mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, led approaching last, soon clear, stayed on well, won at Folkestone 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) sft in Dec '11 beating Monturgeon (11-0) by 15l, 15 ran.
