held up in last pair, steady headway tracking leaders after 12th, went right 4 out, soon outpaced, weakened 3 out
mid-division out wide, not fluent 10th, jumped right and weakened next, blundered badly and pulled up after 12th
held up in mid-division, headway out wide approaching 2 out, outpaced between last two, plugged on
held up in rear, jumped slowly 8th, plugged on run-in, never on terms
jumped right at times, led, hit 9th, joined and went right 4 out, strongly pressed and headed next, ridden and lost 2nd before next, weakened between last two
chased leaders, pushed along approaching 3 out, ridden in 3rd and one pace between last two, no chance with leading duo
tracked leader, challenged going well 3 out, led before next, ridden and strongly pressed last, driven and kept on gamely run-in, headed in head bob
raced on inner, held up in mid-division, bit closer at 8th, tracking leaders going well 3 out, went 2nd before next, ridden to challenge last, stayed on to lead in head bob
Barton Knoll is best when able to dominate small fields. Destrier has been beaten off lower marks over hurdles recently but isn’t badly treated on the pick of his chase form. Morning Vicar is back on a winning mark but may be in need of a confidence-booster and Perth runner-up Gaelik Coast makes more appeal. Chepstow winner Dublin Four is also interesting but CORRAN CROSS (NAP) certainly wasn’t winning out of turn at Haydock and can progress again now he’s got his head back in front.
Gaelik Coast (FR) 9-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway travelling well 3 out, ridden to lead 2 out, few lengths clear last, kept on flat, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Coach Carter (11-10) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Espoir De Teillee (FR) 80-1 (10-10) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th, some headway 10th, chasing leaders on outside 13th, mistake and lost place 14th, well beaten 7th 3 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Shang Tang (IRE) 5-2 (11-2) Held up, jumped right at times, not fluent 2nd, closed 11th, switched right 3 out, soon led, bumped by rival from behind 2 out, driven out flat, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f (3) gs in Sep beating Hooper (11-2) by 2l, 4 ran.
Dublin Four (IRE) 9-4 (11-9) Waited with off the pace in rear, closer after 11th, 3rd 5 out, 2nd before 3 out, upsides last, led run-in, soon clear, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Pink Eyed Pedro (11-12) by 7 1/2l, 5 ran.
Morning Vicar (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) In rear of midfield, headway 9th, fell 14th, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Corran Cross (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Tracked front pair, pressed leader after 4 out, led 3 out, ridden and forged clear 2 out, edged left but stayed on well run-in, always doing enough, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr beating Numitor (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Barton Knoll 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, switched left 3 out, every chance next, jumped left and led last, headed flat, no extra, 3rd of 5, 11 1/4l behind Lalor (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Destrier (FR) 10-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway into 3rd before 3 out, pushed along before last, kept on one pace, 5th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Zabeel Champion (10-8) at Haydock 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
