mid-division, weakened halfway
in rear, jumped right 1st and 2nd and badly right when unseated rider 3rd
in touch on outside, not fluent 5 out, weakened next
always behind, under pressure 9th, never a factor
chased leaders, mistake 2nd, lost place next, rallied before 5 out, chased leaders next, stayed on into 3rd approaching land jumped left last, never able to challenge
chased leaders early, soon mid-division, rallied 4 out, never on terms
always in rear, struggling 9th, soon beaten
led until after 3rd, chased leaders, lost place 8th, tailed off 4 out
chased leaders, lost place after 4th, soon mid-division, weakened 5 out
prominent, led 4 out, headed after next, weakened approaching last
chased leaders, slow 10th, smooth progress and every chance approaching last, kept on well
in rear, mistake 8th, soon beaten, blundered and unseated rider 4 out
always prominent, led after 3rd, headed 4 out, led again after next, strongly challenged before last, hard driven, ran on well
A potentially-informative contest can go to VINNDICATION, who is defending an unbeaten record. A high-class novice hurdler last season, he was particularly impressive when beating Supreme Hurdle sixth Western Ryder in a Listed contest at Huntingdon in February and deliberately swerved Cheltenham and Aintree. Euxton Lane could be another to follow over fences this season as he was highly tried either side of winning at Newbury and Fontwell in March. Red Rising has already won between the flags but the three-times hurdles winner could find this on the short side. Fleminport is another interesting recruit and Uncle Alastair is the only course winner in the line-up and one more that should be suited by the switch to chasing.
Arctic Vodka 18-1 (11-4) Soon towards rear, tailed off 4 out, 6th of 7, dist behind Imperial Aura (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct.
Brackenmoss Rory 40-1 (10-13) Prominent to before 6th, soon behind, no danger after, tailed off, 13th of 15, dist behind Late Date (11-5) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Claud And Goldie (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, not fluent 7th, in touch in 5th when not fluent 11th, well beaten when mistake 3 out, mistake 2 out, short of room and left 4th last, 4th of 7, 20 1/4l behind Cubomania (11-12) at Perth 2m 4f (3) gd in Sep.
Dark Valley (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, jumped slowly and not fluent throughout, weakened 4 out, tailed off next, moderate 3rd, last of 3, dist behind Bordeaux Bill (11-0) at Wetherby 3m (4) sft in Dec.
Euxton Lane (IRE) 28-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, steady headway before 3 out, ridden before next, one pace and beaten when mistake last, weakened flat, 7th of 12, 11 1/2l behind Black Op (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Fleminport (IRE) 3-1fav (10-7) Mid-division, no fluent 3rd, not fluent and reminder 6th, stayed on same pace approaching 2 out, 4th of 11, 6 3/4l behind Clyne (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) hvy in Mar.
Garde Forestier (FR) 14-1 (11-9) Held up in mid-division, headway on outside 8th, weakened before 2 out where pulled up, at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.
Nine O Three (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Mid-division, lost place when slow 4th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 2 out, at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (5) gs in Oct.
Pookie Pekan (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) With leader, reminders before 4 out, hampered on bend before 6 out, soon lost place, weakened from 4 out, 6th of 7, 37 1/4l behind Calipso Collonges (11-12) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (4) sft in Mar.
Red Rising (IRE) 13-2jfav (11-12) Prominent, mistake 8th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before next, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Uncle Alastair 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, effort after 3 out, ridden after next, one pace before last, went 3rd and kept on flat, not reach front pair, 3rd of 11, 1 3/4l behind Ocean Cove (11-2) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Valnamixe Du Mee (FR) 18-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, mistake 4th, headway 14th, went 2nd flat, stayed on, just failed, 2nd of 9, hd behind Mollies Gent (11-4) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Vinndication (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged 4th, led 7th, clear from 2 out, stayed on well, won at Huntingdon 2m 4f lst (1) sft in Feb beating Western Ryder (11-4) by 3 1/4l, 6 ran.
