held up in rear, jumped slowly early stages, headway approaching 11th, went 2nd 4 out until blundered 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders, not fluent 13th, hit 15th, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, lost place 2nd, not fluent 8th, headway when not fluent 14th, mistake 4 out, hampered 3 out, every chance last, stayed on
tracked leader until approaching 11th, last when mistake 14th, behind after next
in rear, hit 6th, behind 15th, pulled up before 4 out
tracking leaders when not fluent 2nd, mistake 6th, closed 10th, went 2nd before next, led 12th, joined last, found extra and in command towards finish
led until 12th, 3rd when badly hampered 3 out, challenged last, held towards finish
Et Maintenant just failed to catch The Magic Bishop at Carlisle last time and another bold bid looks assured. However, HEEZ A STEEL also went very close in better company at Cartmel in June and gets the vote on his first outing since. Beau Dandy has claims on the best of his form but winning hurdler Stronghaven failed to complete on his chasing bow at Carlisle last month. Kingmoss arrives out of sorts and The Hollinwell has only won a couple of bumpers since 2010.
The Hollinwell 20-1 (11-2) In touch, hamperd 3rd, soon tracked leader, led 5th to after 7th, lost place next, hit 11th, behind from 4 out, 10th of 12, well behind Alvarado (11-9) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Kingsmoss (IRE) 20-1 (10-9) Prominent, disputed lead 6 out, led next, ridden and headed entering straight, weakened, 7th of 18, 23l behind Bundle Of Fun (10-6) at Gowran Park 3m hcp chs 0-130 gd in Oct.
Et Maintenant (FR) 13-2 (11-3) In touch, ridden to challenge 2 out, ran on flat, never reached winner, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind The Magic Bishop (11-12) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Oct.
Heez A Steel (IRE) 5-1 (10-1) Mid-division, headway 3rd, mistake 12th, close 3rd when mistake 2 out, went 2nd soon after bend turning for home, stayed on, no impression close home, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Sea Saffron (11-6) at Cartmel 3m 6f hcp ch 0-125 (3) gd in Jun.
Stronghaven (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Behind, struggling 9th, soon tailed off, pulled up 5 out, in a race won by Rival D'estruval (11-4) at Carlisle 2m 4f nov chs (4) hvy in Oct, 7 ran.
Overquest 9-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear and keen, soon mid-division, lost place 11th, pulled up before 14th, in a race won by Companero (11-0) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy in Feb '11, 12 ran.
Beau Dandy (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, weakened from 5 out, went poor 4th before 2 out, never dangerous, 4th of 9, 19l behind Ballyvoneen (10-13) at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in May.
