held up in rear on outside, pushed along 8th, weakened 10th
pulled hard, soon handy, not much room and lost place after 3rd, headway when not fluent 7th, weakened approaching 10th
led until 8th, led approaching 10th, ridden after 2 out, edged right flat, driven out
held up, in touch when blundered badly and unseated rider 3rd
ran in snatches mostly in 3rd, 5 lenghts adrift 3 out, stayed on same pace
tracked leader, led 8th until approaching 10th, stayed pressing winner, not fluent 2 out, soon driven, stayed on flat
Nonrunner
A fair event of its type with INTAC selected ahead of Canal Bank and Tritonville Lodge. The eight-year-old does have the edge of chasing experience and was far from disgraced last time out. Colin Tizzard is noted as a man who can improve hurdlers over the larger obstacles. Canal Bank took on some tough opposition in Ireland so will welcome the switch to England. Tony McCoy's booking appeals. Tritonville Lodge was a fair hurdler on his day. He handles fast ground and does stay further. Winter Star has had a sizeable absence to deal with. That said, he made hay during the summer of 2008 so the going will not be an issue so any support for the Evan Williams charge should not be ignored. Plenty to ponder over though Intac's first effort offered enough promise to sell him to us.
Canal Bank (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Always behind, 12th of 18, well behind Pandorama (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f beg chs sft in Oct.
Doheny Bar (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) In touch, not fluent 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out, tailed off, 6th of 11, well behind Bobble Hat Bob (11-0) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (5) gd.
Intac (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Led, joined when pecked 10th, narrowly headed before 2 out, stayed challenging, upsides and every chance flat, found no extra and held final 75 yards, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Classic Swain (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m beg chs (5) gd.
Jocheski (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division on inside, headway on outer approaching 6th, chasing leaders 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 7th of 11, 29l behind Nortonthorpe Lad (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Pagan Sword 5-2 (10-12) Led, not fluent and headed 2nd, outpaced 4 out, kept on and no impression from 3 out, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Novikov (10-9) at Worcester 2m nov chs (4) gf.
Tritonville Lodge (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Chased leader until approaching 3 out, weakened last, 5th of 12, 12l behind Tarvini (10-4) at Worcester 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Jun.
Winter Star 4-1 (12-0) Tracked leader, led 6th to 8th, weakened approaching 2 out, pulled up approaching last, dismounted, in a race won by Thunder Rock (11-8) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Sep '08, 7 ran.
