held up towards rear, ridden after 9th, headway 11th, outpaced after 14th, no impression after
mostly tracked leader, not fluent 10th, soon ridden, led next, headed before 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off
soon prominent, cajoled along from 6th, weakening when mistake 10th, mistake next, pulled up before 12th
held up in rear, modest 6th when mistake 14th, never in contention
mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway 10th, chased winner 4 out, pecked last, no extra
led until 11th, weakened 13th, pulled up after next
mid-division, not fluent 1st or 9th, weakened 11th, pulled up before 13th
tracked leaders, mistake 11th, went 2nd 12th until after 14th, weakened approaching last
soon towards rear, behind 11th, stayed on flat, went 4th close home, never dangerous
chased leaders, led approaching 4 out, not fluent 2 out, stayed on well
in rear, jumped left 1st, reminders after 7th, pulled up after 9th
THENAMEESCAPESME can carry a penalty to victory ahead of Petroupetrov and Prince Noora. Kim Bailey's gelding won impressively at Hereford last time, making all to come home unchallenged. It's therefore no surprise that he's turned out under a penalty and in a weak race he makes easily the most appeal, especially as he's won off higher marks over hurdles and appears as effective over the larger obstacles. Petroupetrov takes a slight drop in trip but that shouldn't harm his chance, which is a solid one after he scored at Uttoxeter last time. He's 7lbs higher though and may struggle to give weight away to these. Prince Noora hasn't been with Tim Vaughan for long and will surely be placed to win a race at some point. This isn't strong and the yard are in form but he didn't show enough last time for us to give him the vote, although both Irish wins came under similar conditions and a market check is required. Sarahs Gift looks in the handicapper's grip but should be better for this extra distance whilst the visored Good Harvest should've come on for his first run of the year last time but Thenameescapesme can double up.
Petroupetrov (FR) 11-1 (11-4) Led 2nd until 3rd, led 4th until 6th, led 7th, driven clear after 2 out until last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd beating Our Jim (11-12) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
Sula's Legend 9-2 (10-11) Held up in rear, weakening when hit 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Presentandcorrect (11-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd, 7 ran.
Tayman (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Led until 4th, soon ridden, weakened 6th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Ring Bo Ree (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf, 9 ran.
Sarahs Gift (IRE) 4-1fav (11-4) Behind, headway and in touch 10th, outpaced 2 out, 4th and no impression when not fluent last, 4th of 9, 6l behind Jordan's Light (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Good Harvest (IRE) 8-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 11th, close 2nd when blundered 3 out, mistake next, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 32l behind Prophete De Guye (10-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Vial De Kerdec (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Took keen hold, led approaching 1st, not fluent next, headed 8th, fell next, in a race won by Midnight Gold (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf, 12 ran.
Prince Noora (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up in 5th, closed before 9th, weakened approaching 2 out, 3rd of 7, 21l behind De Luain Gorm (11-13) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Thenameescapesme 11-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, led 8th, clear from after 3 out, eased towards finish, easily, won at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf beating Scalini's (10-9) by 16l, 11 ran.
Keltic Lord 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders until jumped slowly 2nd, soon in rear and not fluent, well behind 11th, pulled up before last, in a race won by Petroupetrov (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd, 12 ran.
Rifleman (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway after 7th, challenged 2 out, weakened flat, 3rd of 14, 12l behind Silver Phoenix (11-6) at Worcester 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd.
Bernard 8-1 (10-2) Chased leaders, sometimes jumped left and not fluent, mistake 10th, soon last, weakened after next, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Prophete De Guye (10-7) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
