chased leaders, lost place 6th, hit 9th, headway after 4 out, chased winner 3 out, stayed on same pace flat
chased leader to 4th, ridden 8th, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, went 2nd 4th, not fluent 10th, led after 4 out, stayed on well to draw clear final 100 yards
in rear, mistake 6th, blundered next, weakened 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in rear, not fluent 1st, reminders 2nd and 4th, not fluent 5th, headway into modest 5th after 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, no chance when blundered 2 out, pulled up before last
led, soon clear, not fluent, hit 8th, headed after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
in rear, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, no chance with front pair
ARTIC SHADOW won well on his first start for trainer Tim Vaughan and is taken to win again at the expense of Charmahal and Chorizo. The selection changed yards having run poorly back in May on his final start for Robin Dickin. He improved ten fold in two months to score at Uttoxeter last time out and even with his seven-pound penalty he looks the one horse in the race to stay on the right side of. Charmahal ran a fair second to Saafend Rocket at Southwell last time out and although he is proving a difficult horse to win with he has place claims once again. The same can be said for Chorizo who won at Towcester back in May and was back among the winners over course and distance last time out. He is in great form of late and has to be respected but with top weight to carry life will be tough. Artic Shadow looks a little unexposed and there should be more improvement now that Timmy Vaughan has his hands on him.
Chorizo (IRE) 13-2 (10-8) Held up, led 3 out, stayed on well from last, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf beating Divex (10-1) by 5l, 9 ran.
Benny The Piler (IRE) 9-2 (9-9) Chased leaders, pushed along after 9th, weakened from 3 out, 3rd of 6, 22l behind He's A Hotshot (10-1) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Arctic Shadow 4-1 (11-12) Pressed leader, led 4 out, clear last, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd beating Skipper's Lad (11-6) by 5l, 13 ran.
Blessed Forever (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, tracked leader until after 6th, hit 8th, mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, switched right approaching last, weakened flat, 4th of 10, 10l behind Converti (10-7) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (5) gf in Jun.
Charmahal (IRE) 7-2fav (11-5) Held up, headway 4 out, chased winner after 2 out, every chance last, soon ridden, not quicken, 2nd of 14, 1l behind Saafend Rocket (10-10) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Jun.
Sam Cruise 6-1 (10-3) Made all, drew clear from 5 out, 15 lengths clear last, eased flat easily, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf in Jun beating Finbin (11-4) by 11l, 13 ran.
Uptown Lad (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, strong run between last 2, went 2nd last, ran on to lead flat, soon clear, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gf in Jun beating Big Bone (11-1) by 8l, 12 ran.
