mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and went 4th 2 out, stayed on run-in, nearest finish
prominent, bad mistake 1st and dropped to mid-division, hampered jumping 3rd, ridden after 4 out and soon beaten and pulled up before last
made virtually all, jumped well, faced strong challenge 3 out, ridden and 1 length ahead last, stayed on gamely, all out, just held on
mid-division, went 4th 4 out, ridden and chased front pair home turn, kept on one pace
prominent, steadily lost ground from 7th, in rear 11th, soon well behind and pulled up before last
towards rear, ridden after 3 out, plugged on, never a factor
handy, not fluent 3 out and dropped away tamely
front mid-division, went prominent 6th, lost position 4 out and weakened quickly, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden and went 2nd 3 out, soon pressed leader, 1 length down last, stayed on run-in, just denied
towards rear, ridden and some late headway from 2 out, never a danger
nor fluent in rear, mistake 4 out, always behind
This looks tricky but Longshanks did win at Exeter in March. Kakamora’s placed efforts last season came in small fields but he may have improved for recent wind surgery. MOT A MOT won over hurdles at Newbury in the spring having a first run for Sam Thomas. He could make an even better chaser so is preferred to fellow chasing newcomers Arizona Cardinal and Mucho Mas. Rocky Lake has been very lightly raced with Bill Baxter, Operation Overlord and Latitude others to consider.
Latitude (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, pushed along before 2 out, soon lost touch, 6th of 8, 30l behind Pull Again Green (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Apr.
Mot A Mot (FR) 11-4 (10-10) Tracked leader, led approaching 2 out, soon joined, ridden and pressed flat, stayed on strongly, won at Newbury 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Royaume Uni (11-10) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Arizona Cardinal 5-6fav (11-12) Made all, pushed along approaching last, unchallenged, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f (4) gd in Mar beating Prince Des Fichaux (11-5) by 5 1/2l, 5 ran.
Rocky Lake (IRE) 5-2 (11-8) Prominent, pressed leader 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on but no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 7 1/2l behind Name In Lights (11-8) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Longshanks (IRE) 15-8fav (11-10) Towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 7, 27l behind Marettimo (10-11) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Kakamora 9-4 (11-5) Held up tracking leaders, pushed along and outpaced before 13th, rallied approaching 4 out, trying to close in 2nd when fell 3 out, at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Bill Baxter (IRE) 4-1 (10-3) Made most until narrowly headed 4th, chased leader, awkward and led again after 4 out, joined next, headed before 2 out, weakened before the last, 4th of 9, 11 1/2l behind Foillan (10-0) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) hvy in Feb.
Operation Overlord (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Raced wide towards rear, headway 3 out, led approaching next, ridden and ran on, won at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Nov beating Mayo Star (12-3) by 2 1/4l, 12 ran.
Mucho Mas (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Mid-division, closed 5th, headway before next, close up 4 out, slightly outpaced before 2 out, rallied and not fluent last, hung left and went 2nd flat, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 3/4l behind Ashoka (11-2) at Warwick 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Creative Control (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Towards rear on outside, not always fluent, outpaced 4 out, left 3rd last, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Half Shot (11-1) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Good Work (FR) 20-1 (11-5) Prominent early until mistake 2nd, ridden and outpaced home turn, never in contention, 5th of 10, 31 1/4l behind Fugitif (11-12) at Worcester 2m hcp (4) gs in Nov.
