took keen hold, led 1st, ridden and headed before last, lost 2nd flat, kept on
tracked leaders, jumped left 7th, not fluent next, lost place before 4 out, well beaten 3 out
led until 1st, tracked leader, not fluent 5th, hit 8th, lost place 2 out, weakened
held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway on outside before 5th, close 3rd 2 out, soon ridden and beaten
tracked leaders, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, driven and 3 lengths clear flat, headed close home
mid-division, headway 3 out, switched right before 2 out, went 2nd and 3 lengths to make up flat, stayed on well, led close home
held up towards rear, headway 6th, not much room and mistake next, soon lost place, well beaten 3 out
held up in rear, headway when switched right then left after 3 out, 4th before last, unable to challenge, stayed on flat
NonRunner
Duke Of Navan still has a touch of class and Rebecca Menzies has high hopes for Pain Au Chocolat this season. Imjoeking led the Topham field over the National fences here in April until falling on the second circuit while the novice Ballyhill shouldn't be far away running in his first handicap over the larger obstacles. Nicolas Chauvin won well at Wetherby but has a 9lb higher mark to overcome here and Ut Majeur Aulmes and Workbench might find this too competitive. BABY KING is having only his third start over fences but he was travelling strongly when falling at Market Rasen in May having won earlier at Wincanton - he should have plenty more to offer.
Duke Of Navan (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders and keen, led 4 out, headed before last, kept on and no impression, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Pain Au Chocolat (11-7) at Perth 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Pain Au Chocolat (FR) 5-2 (11-7) Tracked leader, challenged before 3 out, led before last, ridden run-in, kept on well, won at Perth 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Duke Of Navan (11-12) by 4l, 5 ran.
Ink Master (IRE) 9-1 (11-11) Led set good pace and went clear after 2nd, reduced lead 7th, headed when mistake 2 out, weakened soon after, last of 6, 37 3/4l behind Vancouver (11-3) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Ballyhill (FR) 14-1 (11-2) Led to 4th, tracked winner, driven and one pace before last, no impression with front pair flat, 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind North Hill Harvey (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m (2) gd in Oct.
Ut Majeur Aulmes (FR) 4-1 (11-8) Chased winner, upsides from 4 out, every chance when hit 2 out, weakened badly soon after, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 5, 14l behind Sizing Platinum (11-12) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp (3) hvy in Oct.
Baby King (IRE) 3-1cfav (11-1) Tracked leaders, headway to challenge after 4 out, upsides and every chance when fell next, at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in May.
Imjoeking (IRE) 33-1 (10-0) Led until fell 14th, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Workbench (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, every chance last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 8, 3 3/4l behind Oliver's Hill (10-3) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Nicolas Chauvin (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) In rear, headway before 4 out, went 2nd from 3 out, led 2 out, clear before last, kept on strongly, won at Wetherby 1m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Little Pop (11-7) by 6l, 8 ran.
