chased leaders, mistake 4 out, weakened next, modest 3rd
with leader, jumped left 1st and 5th, blundered 7th, led 5 out, headed approaching 2 out, no extra closing stages
chasing leaders when blundered and unseated rider 2nd
led, soon joined, hampered 1st and 5th, headed 5 out, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, stayed on well after last (2 fences emitted)
NonRunner
SLIDECHECK had been performing reasonably well over fences without winning before scoring over timber at Wincanton and this doesn't look any tougher so he can go in again. Guanciale has only won once in his career, over hurdles at Warwick in 2014, but he's produced the occasional decent effort over fences and shouldn't be overlooked. Cruising Bye was in very good form at this time a year ago and looks well enough handicapped but hasn't been seen since April. Derryogue scored on good ground at Leicester in November and his two subsequent starts have been in much softer conditions while Rocky Stone has to be a threat though he's a real staying type and wouldn't want the ground to dry out.
Cruising Bye 7-2 (10-0) Chased leaders, went 3rd 13th, pushed along in 4th before 16th, soon one pace, mistake 2 out, went modest 3rd last, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Allthekingshorses (11-4) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Mist The Boat 4-1 (11-9) Led approaching 2nd, mistake 3rd, jumped left next, headed 5 out, weakened 3 out, tailed off, 5th of 7, dist behind Rainbow Haze (11-5) at Chepstow 3m hcp (5) hvy in Nov.
Guanciale 16-1 (10-9) Held up, pecked 1st, closed 8th, ridden after 3 out, no extra 2 out, lost 3rd flat, 4th of 7, 26l behind Vazaro Delafayette (11-6) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Feb.
Rocky Stone (IRE) 11-4fav (11-3) Tracked winner, ridden before 3 out, kept on same pace, lost 2nd next, no impression, 3rd of 6, 4 1/4l behind Midnight Jade (10-3) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Slidecheck (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 2 out, went left between last 2, held on well, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (5) sft in Mar beating Vering (10-1) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Derryogue (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, went remote 3rd before 4 out, no chance with clear pair after, weakened and pulled up before last, at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Mar.