tracked leaders, weakened before 4 out
always behind, weakened from 5 out
held up mid-division, blundered and weakened from 3 out
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, went 4th before last, kept on same pace
close up, led before 3 out, ridden and headed run-in, kept on and always well held
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace
led, headed before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up
tracked leaders in 3rd, weakened after 2 out
held up towards rear, pushed along 3 out, headway before 2 out, in 5th from last, one pace
held up mid-division, in 6th from last, one pace
held up mid-division, headway 3 out, led run-in, kept on strongly
held up in touch, lost place from 7 out, no impression
tracked leaders, reminders before 3 out, soon weakened
always towards rear
with leaders, weakened from 4 out
Man Of Plenty must be noted in the market on this first run for 590 days and is one to watch in the future if shaping with promise. However, this is an open contest with many chances and STEAMBOAT BILL, one of three Irish raiders, is open to plenty of improvement against essentially exposed sorts. Gordon Elliott's charge is only having a sixth start over timber and was far from disgraced by a midfield finish at Punchestown last month in an ultra-competitive opportunity handicap hurdle. A winner previously at Down Royal, he should appreciate this step-up in trip too. Course winner Captain Brown is likely to have been prepared with this contest in mind and is respected along with recent Wetherby winner, Tickenwolf, who is another likely improver on show. General Mahler also falls into that category and is another to note as he pulled up in much hotter company at Haydock when last seen but looks on a decent handicap mark when his overall profile is taken into account.
Grape Tree Flame 7-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway when mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, no impression,, 4th of 10, 13l behind Alzammaar (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in May.
Cousin Khee 14-1 (11-0) Behind, outpaced 3 out, kept on under pressure from next, never reached leaders, 5th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Here's Herbie (11-1) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Steamboat Bill (IRE) 11-1 (11-8) Settled behind leaders, 8th halfway, ridden and no impression before 3 out, kept on one pace, 10th of 25, 18 3/4l behind Shamiran (11-4) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in Apr.
Captain Brown 18-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and every chance last, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Nine Altars (10-11) at Ayr 2m hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Volcanic (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, led before next, headed 2 out, lost 2nd and stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Alzammaar (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gf in May.
General Mahler (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Held up, awkward 6th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before last, at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
Thatshowhedidit (IRE) 10-1 (11-10) Towards rear, 8th halfway, 7th 3 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out, moderate 5th before last, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 20 1/2l behind Coolaghknock Glebe (11-7) at Down Royal 2m 2f hcp hvy in Feb.
Mwaleshi 15-2 (11-12) Chased winner until 3rd, chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 7, 23 1/2l behind Call It On (11-7) at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Man Of Plenty 14-1 (11-3) Held up in last pair, not fluent 8th, headway approaching next, went 3rd 4 out, no impression 2 out, 3rd of 7, 26 1/2l behind In The Rough (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (3) gs in Oct.
Tickenwolf (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 4 out, close up next, ridden after 2 out, led last, stayed on well to go clear flat, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May beating Angus Glens (11-12) by 3l, 15 ran.
Allbarnone 7-1 (10-6) Mid-division, left 4th from 4th, closed 8th, led after 2 out, headed before last when awkward jump, weakened flat, 6th of 11, 11 1/4l behind Altesse De Guye (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Celtic Monarch (IRE) 9-4fav (11-5) Mid-division, tracked leaders after 3 out, went 2nd before last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, always held, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Smadynium (11-0) at Hexham 2m (5) gs in Apr.
Johnny Go 8-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, not always fluent, 2nd when mistake last, no extra close home, 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Maraweh (11-12) at Perth 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Bell Weir 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division on outside when fell 1st, at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Omid 3-1 (10-8) Always well behind, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind Christmas Hamper (10-11) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (6) gf in May.