jumped poorly, mid-division, towards rear 3rd, some headway after 4 out, well beaten next
led until mistake 6th, hit 8th, weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up
chased leaders, well off the pace 7th, headway 4 out, chased winner 2 out until mistake last, no extra flat
veered left start, refused to race, took no part
tracked leaders, lost place before 4th, well behind 7th, went modest 4th last
prominent, led 6th, jumping left from next, mistake and headed 3 out, 4th and weakening when fell 2 out
prominent, not fluent 4th, lost place 6th, ridden 8th, tailed off before 3 out, soon pulled up
held up, headway before 5th, went 2nd 9th, led and jumped left from 3 out, clear 2 out, ridden out
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake next, behind when jumped left and mistake 6th, soon pulled up
behind, jumped left 5th, headway before 3 out, 3rd 2 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner, kept on
Tikkinthebox has won over fences on three occasions though is 5lb higher than his most recent success at Newton Abbot. Hurdles winner Jabulani debuts over fences on his first start since March but Irish challenger A PLACE APART won over timber at Downpatrick recently and Gavin Cromwell’s charge is taken to make a winning start over fences. Balibour has yet to win over the smaller obstacles and makes his chasing bow along with Battle Of Ideas and Acaro with the latter pair both preferred on these terms to hurdles winner Way Out West.
Jabulani (FR) 25-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway after 3 out, weakened before next, pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Tikkinthebox (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Tracked leading pair, went right 3rd, outpaced when hit 4 out, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to press for modest 2nd closing stages, no chance with winner, 3rd of 5, 15 1/4l behind Mcgroarty (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Balibour (FR) 6-1 (11-11) Chased leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 15, dist behind Vado Forte (11-6) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Mar.
Utility (GER) 8-1 (11-1) Gave trouble lining up, in rear, mistake 2 out, went 4th before last, never involved, 4th of 8, 22 1/2l behind Novis Adventus (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Battle Of Ideas (IRE) 8-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, no extra next, 5th of 14, 15l behind Muhtaris (11-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
East Indies 7-2 (10-7) Always behind, ridden and well beaten after 4 out, 7th of 10, 13 1/4l behind Phoenix Dawn (10-9) at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Way Out West (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Prominent until 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, dist behind Aldrin (11-5) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
A Place Apart (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Chased leaders and 4th from halfway, improved into 2nd from 4 out, further progress to challenge from last where not fluent, soon pushed along to lead and kept on under pressure closing stages, all out, won at Downpatrick 2m 3f mdn Good - Yielding in Oct beating Free Ranger (11-8) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Acaro (FR) 10-1 (10-9) In touch in rear, pushed along after 4th, outpaced after 3 out, soon weakened, last of 7, dist behind Sea Wall (11-12) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 6-1 (10-6) Held up last, steady headway 8th, pushed along in 5th 4 out, mistake and weakened next, 5th of 6, 20 3/4l behind Mercian King (11-1) at Worcester 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
