not always fluent, held up in rear, good headway on outside from 4 out, chasing leaders when went right 3 out, disputing close 2nd when fell 2 out
last trio, ridden along before 15th, driven in 5th 4 out, no chance when left modest 4th 2 out, tailed off
chased leader until 14th, stayed well there until weakened quickly after 17th, soon tailed off and pulled up
led, not fluent 2nd and 11th, clear 12th until 15th, hit next, headed 3 out, soon dropped to 4th, left modest 3rd next
pushed left 1st and next, chased leaders, mistake 5th, went 3rd 12th, went 2nd before 14th until next, chased leaders, disputing close 2nd when left chasing winner 2 out, no extra from last
in touch until dropped to rear before 10th, mistake 13th, poor 7th when blundered 17th, soon eased and pulled up soon after
jumped left, chased leaders, went 2nd 15th, pushed along to lead 3 out, driven and stayed on well from last
Upham Atom gained his only chasing success over the C&D in March but may just need this after a long break while Tarquinius scored over an even longer trip here two years ago and has had even longer off. Nudge And Nurdle last won a race at Sandown two years ago but has been slowly dropping in the weights and has a chance here with his young rider's claim a big help. The assessor gave Magot De Grugy a real chance at Fontwell on his reappearance and he took it with a hard-fought success for which he's been raised 7lb. He looks certain to go well but JUST THE JOB is a progressive chaser who made all at Chepstow last time and a 7lb penalty doesn't look enough to prevent a follow-up.
Upham Atom 2-1fav (11-4) Held up last but in touch, closer order to 5th 13th, slow 16th, disputing 3rd at 18th, went 3rd 2 out, 3 lengths to find and driven last, strong run flat, just failed, 2nd of 6, ns behind The Ferbane Man (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Nudge And Nurdle (IRE) 15-2 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway before 4 out, one pace from next, 4th of 9, 16l behind Rockiteer (11-9) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Tarquinius (FR) 11-4fav (10-13) Tended to jump left, chased leaders on outside, weakened and mistake 18th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Noble Bily (9-9) at Folkestone 3m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy in Mar '10.
Just The Job (IRE) 85-40fav (11-6) Made all, not fluent 13th, ridden approaching 4 out, left well clear last, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Nov beating Stormyisland Ahead (11-12) by 14l, 6 ran.
Magot de Grugy (FR) 3-1fav (10-9) Chased leaders, slow and slightly lost place 7th, rallied 10th, tracked leader 12th, led approaching 3 out, kept on gamely under pressure flat, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Nov beating Full Of Joy (11-12) by nk, 10 ran.
Freeline Fury 11-1 (11-2) Held up, pulled up after 5th, dismounted, in a race won by Skipper's Lad (10-10) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Oct '09, 7 ran.
Master Cobbler (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) In touch on inside, ridden and outpaced after 4 out, kept on same pace, no impression from next, 6th of 13, 7l behind That'lldoboy (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Nov.
