jumped awkwardly 1st, close up, headway to chase leaders 5th, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
clear with leader, led soon after 3rd, headed 5th, ridden 2 out, kept on one pace
led and jumped left 1st, soon clear with two others, headed soon after 3rd, tracked clear leaders, ridden and weakened 5th, tailed off
held up, weakened 3 out, tailed off
close up when jumped badly left 1st, slow next, ridden and weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before last
in rear, headway and in touch 4th, ridden and no impression from 3 out
bumped 1st, close up, lost touch after 4th, tailed off next
held up, ridden 5th, some moderate headway 3 out
in rear, slow 2nd, tailed off from 5th
clear with leading pair, blundered 4th, led next, ridden and jumped left 2 out and last, ridden out
Contre Nous has a decent strike rate in the UK and seems sure to be thereabouts again, despite his penalty. Aye Right made a very pleasing hurdling bow when runner-up at Kelso and has been denied by the weather a few times lately but may find the concession of a stone to PEARL OF THE WEST too onerous a task. With Richard Johnson booked, the Irish raider seems to tick a large number of boxes after a promising hurdling debut behind Lord Napier, the form of which has been boosted by the winner going in again recently. The selection was useful on the Flat, beating Triumph Hurdle second Mr Adjudicator last summer.
Contre Tous (FR) 3-1 (11-2) In touch, tracked leader from 3rd, led narrowly between last 2, left clear last, ridden out flat, won at Southwell 2m (4) sft in Feb beating Hijran (10-9) by 3l, 11 ran.
Aye Right (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Keen, tracked leader, led 3 out until next, chased winner until before the last, went 2nd again towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 4l behind Clondaw Castle (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Biennial (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Led, pressed from 4 out, ridden and headed before last, no extra, 3rd of 8, 7 1/4l behind Snougar (11-2) at Ayr 2m mdn (5) sft in Mar.
Karamoko (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Prominent, lost place before 4 out, 6th of 11, 34 1/2l behind Nube Negra (11-0) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) sft in Jan.
Placedela Concorde 200-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, in 5th before 2 out, never dangerous, 9th of 11, dist behind Bulkov (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) sft in Feb.
Wor Verge 9-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway 3f out, went 3rd over 1f out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 12 1/4l behind On The Rox (11-2) at Newcastle 2m (5) pol in Feb.
Cyprus Avenue 12-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, headway before 3 out, no extra from last, 4th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Snougar (11-2) at Ayr 2m mdn (5) sft in Mar.
The Dawn Bandit (IRE) 250-1 (10-5) Always towards rear, never on terms, 6th of 14, 23l behind Clondaw Castle (11-4) at Kelso 2m (4) sft in Jan.
Tibbie Tamson 66-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened, 12th of 13, dist behind Heartasia (11-3) at Kelso 2m (5) gd in May.
Pearl Of The West (IRE) 10-3 (10-2) In touch, headway on outside chasing leaders 4 out, went left and hit 2 out, went left again last, ridden and one pace in 4th run-in, 4th of 16, 2 3/4l behind Lord Napier (11-4) at Ludlow 2m mdn (4) sft in Feb.
