tracked leader, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, stayed on well under pressure
pulled hard in mid-division, hit 2nd, never on terms
raced in rear, some headway 2 out, never dangerous
pulled hard in rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, never able to challenge
raced keenly tracking leaders, every chance 2 out, weakened flat
pulled hard in touch, ridden to challenge approaching 2 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway after 3 out, never nearer
in touch, under pressure 3 out, hit next, soon weakened
made all, raced keenly, strongly challenged from 2 out, kept on under pressure, all out
held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, not fluent when every chance last, no extra flat
Nonrunner
SCOTER FONTAINE was third at Aintree last month in a race that is working out well and Tony McCoy can get him home in front. The Rebecca Curtis-trained four-year-old looked smart when a wide-margin bumper winner in the spring and that hurdling debut last time will have him spot on for this. The runner-up has since come out and won and the seventh that day has also finished runner-up since, adding confidence. Prince Of Denial would have finished much closer but for jumping issues at Cheltenham and if Nigel Twiston-Davies has ironed those out then he could prove a threat, while dual bumper winner Safran De Cotte merits plenty of respect on his first try over timber. Pie At Midnight can improve for his recent return while, if he could transfer his chase form to hurdles Pret A Thou would be a serious player.
Heron Bay 12-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, headway to lead after 4 out, ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 16, 3l behind Nearby (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Barrie Burn (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, in touch, outpaced after 4 out, weakened next, 11th of 16, well behind Ballybriggan (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Oct.
Daggerman 100-1 (10-5) Mid-division, took keen hold, headway when blundered 4th, weakened 3 out, 11th of 13, 32l behind Drill Sergeant (11-5) at Haydock 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Don Jose (USA) 50-1 (10-5) Held up in 6th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, 48l behind William Hogarth (11-5) at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Dune Shine 5-1 (10-13) Led, raced keen, headed over 4f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 5th of 10, 20l behind Carribs Leap (11-2) at Ludlow 2m nhf (5) gd in Mar.
Grafite 14-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 10, 26l behind Kilcrea Kim (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) hvy in Oct.
Kayfton Pete 150-1 (10-5) Towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway after next, weakened approaching 2 out, 10th of 15, 41l behind Owen Glendower (11-4) at Stratford 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs in Oct.
Pie At Midnight 9-1 (10-9) Took keen hold, off the pace in mid-division, 23 lenghts 4th 3 out, one pace, 4th of 10, 31l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-3) at Bangor 2m 1f nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Prince Of Denial (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Not fluent, chased clear leader after 2nd until 3 out, ridden next, kept on same pace under pressure, no impression approaching last, 5th of 9, 24l behind King Of The Night (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Russian Music (USA) 8-1 (10-4) Held up, headway 4f out, driven and one pace final 2f, 3rd of 8, 11l behind Mister Wall Street (10-9) at Haydock 2m nhf (5) gd in Mar '09.
Safran De Cotte (FR) 10-3 (10-12) Took keen hold early, tracked leaders, jinked right bend over 12f out, led on bit 3f out, clear over 1f out, easily, won at Haydock 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Apr beating Wood Yer (10-10) by 12l, 5 ran.
Scoter Fontaine (FR) 4-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased leading pair 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace under pressure flat, 3rd of 16, 6l behind Ballybriggan (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Oct.
Pret A Thou (FR) 20-1 (10-6) Took keen hold, led until 6th, jumped right thereafter, hit 8th, lost 2nd approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, 11th of 16, 46l behind Chaninbar (10-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Racing With Angels 125-1 (10-12) Mid-division and keen, weakened 5th, 13th of 16, well behind Covert Mission (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec '08.
