took keen hold, led, headed 3rd, chased leader, hit 8th, lost 2nd before 4 out, not fluent next, weakened soon after, tailed off and pulled up before last
raced on inside, held up towards rear, steady headway to 4th but still plenty to do 3 out, effort on outside to 2nd well before 2 out, closed before 2 out, led last, kept on well flat
held up in rear, never involved, tailed off
chased leader, led 3rd, clear 6th until approaching 2 out, ridden and went right 2 out, went right again and headed last, kept on same pace flat
in touch, hit 7th and 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
always towards rear, never involved, tailed off
held up and behind, pushed along before 3 out, headway to 4th well before 2 out, no impression when mistake 2 out, weakened soon after
mid-division, ridden 4 out, weakened rapidly soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
always towards rear, never on terms, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway and hit 8th, ridden 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 4 out, tailed off, blundered 2 out
held up towards rear, headway on outside 7th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
chased leading trio, not fluent 3rd, went 2nd before 4 out, lost 2nd well before 2 out, soon ridden and one pace in 3rd, weakened to modest 4th final 150 yards
always towards rear, ridden and struggling 8th, tailed off
towards rear, good headway to get in behind leaders approaching 8th, went 3rd 4 out, ridden and outpaced well before 2 out, stayed on again to modest 3rd final 150 yards
in touch, ridden and weakened soon after 3 out
always behind, never on terms, tailed off and pulled up before last
raced wide towards rear, tailed off and pulled up before last
A big field for this handicap hurdle and many of the big yards are represented. Nicky Henderson's Dancing Dude overcame inexperience to score at Towcester in April and should be more the finished article this season, while a lengthy absence is unlikely to inconvenience the equally unexposed Sir Du Bearn. Mighty Monty is in good form and still at the right end of the handicap but Patsy Finnegan may be best watched back over hurdles and Gee Dee Nen and Piraya are also better over fences. OUR FATHER won on his hurdling debut at Chepstow and, though beaten twice when odds-on subsequently, looks the type to flourish with another summer on his back and can make a successful return to action here under Timmy Murphy. Shuil Royale should appreciate the easier ground and could be best of the rest.
Camden (IRE) 9-2 (10-6) Held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, hit 9th, soon ridden and weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by The Knoxs (10-8) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov, 10 ran.
Our Father (IRE) 11-10fav (11-4) Always prominent, not fluent 3 out, led before next, headed narrowly approaching last, stayed on, no impression on winner final 150 yards, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Handy Andy (10-12) at Newbury 2m 5f nov hdl (4) sft in Mar.
Sir Du Bearn (FR) 11-4 (10-10) Not fluent 1st, mistake 2nd, held up in last pair, headway 6th, chased winner next, hit 8th, no chance with winner from before 2 out where not fluent, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Nadiya De La Vega (10-3) at Warwick 2m 4yo nov chs (3) gs in Nov '10.
Shoreacres (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, lost place 7th, soon beaten, behind when pulled up 4 out, in a race won by Oscar Gogo (10-9) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) hvy, 15 ran.
Lightning Strike (GER) 14-1 (10-1) In touch, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 18th of 22, 38l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Wee Giant (USA) 11-8fav (10-13) In touch, chased leader 3 out, led going very easy 2 out, hit last, comfortably, won at Leicester 2m 4f sll hdl (5) gd in Nov beating Baccalaureate (11-5) by 13l, 7 ran.
Swansbrook (IRE) 4-11fav (11-0) Keen early led, mistake and headed 8th, effort and bumped rival bend into straight before 4 out, every chance from 4 out, led 2 out, ridden out, readily, won at Leicester 2m 4f beg chase (4) gf in Mar beating Khorun (10-9) by 34l, 3 ran.
Dancing Dude (IRE) 4-5fav (10-13) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 5th, led after 3 out, clear when jinked about 2 out, soon hung left, swished tail close home, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr beating Blue Signal (10-13) by 8l, 8 ran.
Patsy Finnegan 15-2 (11-6) Mid-division, numerous mistakes, fell 12th, in a race won by Garleton (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May, 10 ran.
Non Dom (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, ridden after 5th, lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 36l behind Rock On Ruby (11-10) at Newbury 2m Listed hcap hdle (1) gs in Nov.
Gee Dee Nen 25-1 (11-2) Towards rear, outpaced before 4 out, kept on after 2 out, blundered last, one pace, 4th of 9, 21l behind Quito Du Tresor (11-5) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Phare Isle (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, chased leaders before 4 out, led before and not fluent 2 out, headed before last, one pace, 2nd of 10, 4l behind Fontano (11-6) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Piraya (FR) 9-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 12th, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 13, 48l behind That'lldoboy (10-5) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Lupanar (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) Chased leading trio, dropped to last pair after 3rd, pushed along after 6th, ridden and struggling after 3 out, went modest 3rd before and hit 2 out, 3rd of 5, 17l behind Moghaayer (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr.
Shuil Royale (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, hit 6th, ridden 3 out, no impression approaching last, 7th of 23, 15l behind Decoy (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Nov.
Whenever 7-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, reminders after 8th, headway on outer before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 6, 33l behind King Of Dubai (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Top Smart 15-2 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway before 2 out, went 3rd at last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Fontano (11-6) at Kempton 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Nov.
Mighty Monty 7-2fav (11-9) In touch on outside, effort 3 out, led approaching next, ridden and hard pressed flat, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 17, hd behind Cocacobana (10-6) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Nov.
