mid-division, not fluent 2nd, closed after 5th, mistake 10th, soon struggling, pulled up before last
led until 10th, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, challenged 6th, led 10th, ridden and headed before last, kept on same pace flat
held up in rear, headway 11th, led before last, driven out
held up in rear, some headway 9th, effort when not fluent 3 out, no impression, weakened next
prominent, hit 2nd, mistake 11th, hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next
in touch, challenged 2 out, ridden and every chance last, held by winner flat, stayed on
prominent, lost place 4th, mistake 9th, soon struggling, tailed off 12th, pulled up before last
A number of these have questions to answer having been pulled up last time. But Chestnut Ben has been knocking on the door and came up against an in-form rival at Chepstow last time. ABRICOT DE L'OASIS is unbeaten over fences and looks to be improving at a rate of knots. The five-year-old has gone up another 8lb for winning at Sedgefield but is still getting weight from some exposed chasers and can complete the hat-trick. Lucky Landing was second over these fences last year and isn't badly treated but generally struggles to get his head in front.
Indian Voyage (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden and weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Fill The Power (11-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 8 ran.
Malibu Sun 20-1 (11-6) In lead after 3rd, headed 6th, chased leader until 8th, chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, tailed off and pulled up soon after, in a race won by Ossie's Dancer (10-13) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Lexicon Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Chased leaders on outside, not fluent 4th, jumped left and not fluent next, lost place when again went left 6th, mistake 8th, pulled up before 9th, in a race won by Foundry Square (11-6) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Jul, 7 ran.
Lucky Landing (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear on inside, not fluent 3rd, jumped into brush upright and awkward 13th, soon outpaced, never in contention, went modest 4th 2 out until last, 5th of 7, 22l behind Rio Milan (10-0) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Apr.
Chestnut Ben (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Chased clear pair, left 2nd from 7th, led 2 out, headed last, kept on and held run-in, 2nd of 5, 4l behind Brody Bleu (11-7) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Abricot De L'Oasis (FR) 5-2fav (11-8) Tracked leader, led 11th, clear before 2 out, kept on well, won at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Apr beating Tahiti Pearl (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Gleann Na Ndochais (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Held up in touch, close 3rd after 11th, ridden before 3 out, one pace and beaten in 3rd from next, hampered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Royal Macnab (10-2) at Perth 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) gd in Apr, 5 ran.
Strobe 33-1 (11-0) Chased leaders on outside, ridden after 5th, lost place when not fluent 6th, behind 7th, pulled up after, in a race won by Five O'clock Tea (11-7) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Apr, 17 ran.
