raced keenly, led, ridden and headed final 100 yards, lost 2nd close home
tracked leading pair and pushed along at times, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, switched right and stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd close home, flattered by proximity to winner
tracked leader, upsides going well 2f out, rider delayed challenge until inside final furlong, led on bit final 110 yards, hard held
held up off the pace in 4th, pushed along 6f out, closer on outside over 3f out, ridden and unable to quicken when hung right then left 2f out, weakened over 1f out
RAYMOND completed a hat-trick over hurdles last autumn and has won twice on the all-weather in the past few weeks. He's up another 4lb in the ratings but looks capable of going higher. Pearl Warrior won four times in Ireland for Johnny Murtagh though hasn't run since a short-head defeat at Dundalk in October. Red Force One has plenty of winning form on the Flat and over timber and is by no means out of this nor is Kitten's Dream, though the latter has looked a bit high in the ratings since scoring at Catterick in September.
Pearl Warrior 20-1 (9-0) Mid-division, 6th halfway, ridden and progress 1 1/2f out, disputed final 150 yards, soon headed, kept on, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Marchons Ensemble (9-0) at Dundalk 1m 4f hcp pol in Oct.
Raymond (IRE) 5-1 (9-2) Led, headed over 5f out, led again 4f out, stayed on well, won at Chelmsford City 1m 5f hcp (4) pol in Apr beating Madeeh (9-7) by 2 1/4l, 4 ran.
Red Force One 100-1 (10-9) Midfield, going well 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, one pace, 6th of 22, 23 3/4l behind Rowland Ward (10-1) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Kitten's Dream 28-1 (8-4) In touch, ridden 2f out, no impression, last of 7, 3 1/4l behind Golden Pass (9-0) at Thirsk 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
