held up, headway tracking leaders 9th, close 3rd when awkward at 15th and 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, upsides last, driven and stayed on gamely run-in, led final strides
chased leaders, went 2nd after 3rd until 15th, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
held up off the pace in last pair, modest 5th at 15th, plugged on in 4th before next, went 3rd before the last, no impression
bit keen, mid-division on inside, headway tracking leaders 7th, went 2nd at 15th until 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, weakened into 4th before the last
held up off the pace in last pair, headway out wide when hit 12th, bad mistake and weakened next, never on terms after
jumped right, led, 3 lengths ahead 2 out, joined last, headed final strides
chased leader until after 3rd, chased leaders, weakened 12th, tailed off next, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, lost place towards rear and struggling before 12th, never on terms after, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
ran in snatches, mid-division, lost place and towards rear before 8th, rallied chasing leaders approaching 13th, weakened before 15th
NonRunner
NonRunner
Wandrin Star’s recent good form has come in veterans’ chases so we’ll take the view that EMPIRE DE MAULDE will have come on a bundle for his run over hurdles at Newcastle. James Ewart’s eight-year-old has a good record around here over fences and finished second on this card 12 months ago. Tile Tapper won easily at Chepstow in February but the going will be a lot different here but Sail Away should go well as he finished second behind the subsequent Cheltenham Festival winner Corach Rambler over course and distance in the autumn.
Exelerator Express (FR) 40-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, jumped right 7th, headway from 15th, 6th 3 out, jumped right 2 out, went 5th before last, never on terms, 5th of 14, 30 1/2l behind Sam Brown (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Wandrin Star (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, led 13th, headed narrowly before 15th, led 3 out and pushed along, strongly pressed 2 out, soon ridden and headed approaching last, kept on run-in, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Elegant Escape (11-10) at Ascot 3m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Sail Away (FR) 17-2 (11-1) Held up in 3rd and bit keen, effort out wide 4 out, left in close 2nd next, led 2 out, shaken up between last two, headed and switched right before the last, ridden and stayed on same pace run-in, 2nd of 3, 5l behind Dusart (11-1) at Leicester 2m 7f (3) gs in Jan.
Empire De Maulde (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, no impression from next, weakened flat, last of 6, 8 1/4l behind Big Bad Bear (10-10) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Head To The Stars 6-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, in touch, pushed along after 5 out, mistake 3 out, plugged on for remote 3rd, 3rd of 5, 27 1/4l behind Tide Times (10-8) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Indy Five (IRE) 15-2 (11-8) Not jump well in rear, ridden and weakened before 4 out, pulled up 3 out, at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Get Out The Gate (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Led, disputed lead after 9th, headed under 3 out but close up, ridden after 2 out and soon weakened, 6th of 8, 31 3/4l behind Bavington Bob (11-10) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Magna Sam 12-1 (11-12) Led, pushed along before 2 out, headed approaching last where not fluent, ridden flat, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 11, 10 1/4l behind No Cruise Yet (10-6) at Carlisle 3m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Royal Magic (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Prominent, led after 4th, not fluent 9th, hard pressed 3 out, headed flat, not pace of winner, 2nd of 10, 5l behind Do You Know What (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m hcp (5) gd in Sep.
Mossy Fen (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Raced wide, tracked winner until 11th, tracked leaders, not fluent 13th, soon weakened, pulled up 4 out, at Warwick 3m (1) sft in Jan.
Tile Tapper 4-1 (11-7) Jumped right at times, tracked leaders, challenged 5th, led before 3 out, drew clear and edged left before last, easily, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) hvy in Feb beating Caswell Bay (10-12) by 7 1/2l, 10 ran.
