held up in rear, took keen hold, pushed along before 6th, soon well behind, tailed off 8th
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 3 out, no impression on winner last, lost 2nd and no extra flat
held up in touch in mid-division, headway after 5th, mistake 7th, weakened appraoching 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd 8th until before 3 out where mistake, soon beaten, tailed off
held up in rear, headway after 5th, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last
mid-division, ridden and lost place when mistake 6th, effort 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, effort 7th, weakened after next, tailed off
mid-division, lost place 4th, behind and ridden 8th, headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd flat, stayed on, no impression on winner
tracked leader, mistakes 5th and 7th, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out
got flyer at start, made all, clear until 6th, not fluent 2 out, clear again last, unchallenged
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Son Of Flicka won the Coral Cup at Cheltenham in March but then fell at Aintree. If he's recovered from that, the top weight could go close here despite his high handicap mark. Joker Choker was last seen winning over fences at Leicester last December but had decent form over hurdles a year ago and has a chance here while One Term rattled up a hat-trick before finishing third at Ffos Las and is worth another try over this longer trip. Holywell should have more to offer this term but so should VENDOR, who gets a tentative vote in this opener. Third in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March, he won easily over 2m at Towcester shortly after which suggests this extra half-mile won't be a problem.
Son Of Flicka 8-1fav (11-4) Held up behind when fell 5th, in a race won by Cape Tribulation (11-12) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gs in Apr, 21 ran.
Mad Moose (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Refused to race, in a race won by Nadiya De La Vega (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs, 20 ran.
Vendor (FR) 1-7fav (11-0) Held up, not much room when not fluent 3rd or 4th, headway next, not fluent 3 out, led going well before next, soon clear, pushed out, won at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating It's Oscar (10-13) by 14l, 7 ran.
Joker Choker (IRE) 2-7fav (11-2) Made all, strongly challenged 2 out, stayed on well, won at Leicester 2m 4f beg chs (4) fm in Dec beating Harvest Song (11-2) by 8l, 4 ran.
Skint 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, mistake and hampered 11th, hit next, weakening when hit 4 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Brackloon High (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb, 8 ran.
One Term (IRE) 6-4fav (11-11) Led to 4th, chased leaders, outpaced from 2 out, kept on and no impression, 3rd of 8, 9l behind Adelar (10-13) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) sft.
Midnight Tuesday (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Mid-division, went 2nd at 7th, closed on leader when hit 3 out, lost place approaching next, kept on same pace, no impression before last, 3rd of 9, 9l behind Maggio (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f hdl (4) gs.
Holywell (IRE) 15-8fav (11-4) Tracked leaders on outside, headway to dispute lead 7th, driven after 3 out, 1 length down in 2nd when mistake next, soon ridden, no chance with winner before last, 2nd of 10, 10l behind On The Right Path (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in May.
Gay Sloane (IRE) 25-1 (10-13) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4th, 6th last, stayed on, went 4th final 150 yards, 4th of 22, 12l behind Dark Lover (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs.
Simonside 25-1 (10-2) In touch, not fluent 1st, ridden after 7th, mistake 3 out, soon beaten, 13th of 20, 36l behind Hada Men (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Wyse Hill Teabags 9-2 (10-13) Tracked leaders, hampered 2nd, close up in 5th when blundered and unseated rider 11th, in a race won by Aneyeforaneye (11-2) at Perth 2m 4f nov chs (4) gd in Sep, 8 ran.
Teak (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Waited with towards rear, closer in 8th 3 out, ridden in 6th before straight, no impression in moderate 5th and kept on same pace from 2 out, 6th of 18, 16l behind Boland's Corner (11-5) at Limerick 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-109 in Oct '11.
