held up in touch, ridden after 5 out, weakened next
tracked leaders, headway 5 out, led 2 out, ridden out
mistakes, led, ridden approaching 4 out, hit and headed 2 out, one pace
prominent, weakened 5 out
tracked leaders, weakened 5 out, tailed off when fell 3 out
held up in touch, headway to track leaders 3rd, weakened 4 out
held up, headway 5 out, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, mistake 4th, weakened 5 out
Kinburn won three from three last term and has to be respected on his reappearance but Howard Johnson's gelding has a career high mark to defy and will need to be absolutely spot on to make a winning return so preference is for Too Forward, who gets the vote over Ross Comm. The selection ran well from out of the weights proper when last seen in a valuable race at Cheltenham last April and has solid claims off his proper mark today. Lack of a recent run need not be of too much concern as Carl Llewellyn has his string in fine form and he is taken to make the most of what looks a favourable mark. Roman Ark has the ability to take a hand in a race of this nature but is becoming frustrating so may be best watched, while Hautclan could probably do with some help from the handicapper having failed to trouble the judge in four starts since joining Jonjo O'Neill. Sue Smith's Ross Comm had a nice pipe-opener over hurdles at Worcester recently and should be more at home over the larger obstacles today but he does not appear to be the best treated of runners and a better bet may prove to be Too Forward, who has solid claims.
Ross Comm 6-4fav (11-6) Prominent, pushed along 5th, slightly outpaced after next, rallied to lead 2 out, headed flat, no extra, 3rd of 16, 4l behind From Dawn To Dusk (11-2) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs.
Too Forward (IRE) 15-2 (10-4) Tracked leaders, led approaching 12th, mistake 3 out, ridden and soon headed and weakened, 2nd of 7, 8l behind Our Vic (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Kinburn (IRE) 11-4 (10-11) Led, headed 4 out, ridden and led again next, kept on gamely, won at Ayr 3m 1f nov hcp chs (2) gd in Apr beating Mckelvey (11-3) by 6l, 7 ran.
Noisetine (FR) 33-1 (11-12) Led and jumped left, headed 10th, weakened 4 out, behind when hampered 2 out, 9th of 11, 21l behind Bronzesmith (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Well Presented (IRE) 9-1 (11-1) Prominent, slight mistake and reminders 3rd, lost place 5th, trailing when pulled up at the 12th in race won by One Four Shannon (10-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Roman Ark 12-1 (10-0) Always handy, effort approaching 4 out, soon one pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 16l behind Nyrche (10-11) at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Hautclan (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up, blundered badly 1st, headway under strong pressure approaching last, stayed on flat, not reach leaders, 7th of 22, 8l behind Oulart (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (A) gd in Mar '05.
Green Ideal 10-1 (10-0) Prominent, 3rd halfway, close up before 4 out, weakened 3 out, trailing when pulled up 5 out in race won by Euro Leader (11-6) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 gd in Apr, 13 ran.
