held up in rear, hampered 5th, headway after next, challenged 3 out, blundered 2 out and last, led flat, soon headed, stayed on same pace towards finish
held up in rear, hampered 5th, closed 2 out, no impression, no extra last
held up towards rear, hampered 5th, headway 2 out, soon switched left, led flat, driven out
tracked leaders, close up 5th, lost place 2 out
tracked leader, led 4th, fell next
held up in rear on outside, headway after 6th, every chance 3 out, soon lost place
tracked leaders on inside, close up from 5th, challenged 3 out, led 2 out, blundered last, headed flat, no extra towards finish
held up in touch, hampered and lost place 5th, unable to get back on term, no impression from 2 out
led until 4th, left in lead next, headed 2 out, still every chance flat, edged right and no impression towards finish
Cool Macavity disappointed when finishing behind Red Merlin at Uttoxeter in June but is better judged on his win at Punchestown in April. He would have a chance here if reproducing that form. Eagle Rock has been in decent form ton he Flat but it's a while since he ran over hurdles. Wadswick Court would have preferred more rain while this may be too sharp for Garde La Victoire on his reappearance. Hawk High finished ahead of Broughton here in the spring and beat KATGARY in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March. But there was less than a length between the pair and as the latter is less exposed he can take his revenge today on a pound better terms and make a winning reappearance.
Garde La Victoire (FR) 13-8fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 2 out, ridden to lead before last, went left at hurdle, stayed on well to come clear flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Oscars Den (11-4) by 6l, 7 ran.
Red Merlin (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3 out, ridden to challenge after next, kept on well, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Ittirad (10-13) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Aug.
Hawk High (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, weakened before last, 10th of 15, 21l behind Guitar Pete (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Katgary (FR) 5-2fav (10-7) Held up in touch, ridden after last, one pace, 6th of 22, 8l behind Court Minstrel (11-12) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Wadswick Court (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Led until 3rd, led before 6th, headed after 3 out, 4 lengths 2nd when left in lead and slighly hampered last, soon hung left and idled, headed towards finish, stayed on close home, 2nd of 5, nk behind Mountain King (11-7) at Ascot 2m nov hdl (2) sft in Feb.
Broughton (GER) 9-1 (11-0) Close up, led after 1st, headed 2nd, tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, 11th of 15, 26l behind Guitar Pete (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f 4yo hdl Grade 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Cool Macavity (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, challenged 3 out, led next, soon headed and weakened, 8th of 9, 32l behind Dubawi Phantom (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gd in Jun.
Handazan (IRE) 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 10th, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Billfromthebar (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chase (3) sft in May, 4 ran.
Eagle Rock (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, held up towards rear, some headway when hit 3 out, weakened and went left next, 6th of 11, 17l behind Aaim To Prosper (10-8) at Doncaster 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Mar '13.
