chased leaders, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
chased leaders in 3rd, led after 5th, headed before 2 out, ridden and weakened before last
with leader, ridden to lead before 2 out, headed last, kept on towards finish
towards rear and outpaced
held up mid-division, headway before 3 out to chase leaders, weakened from last
held up towards rear, tailed off before 3 out
in rear and outpaced, headway 3 out, ridden and every chance run-in, just held close home
chased leaders, lost place 5th, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before last
held up mid-division, headway before 5 out, ridden before 2 out, led last, just held on
led, headed after 5th, weakened from 4 out, pulled up before last
prominent, weakened after 3 out
Donald McCain has won this twice in recent years and Astrum can make a bold bid to continue the sequence though his best form has been over the minimum trip. Claude Carter has won five times over timber but he's reached the veteran stage and he didn't run well at Musselburgh last time. Mondlicht, who started his career with two victories over a mile at Southwell, hasn't made the expected progress over hurdles but Should I Stay can go well. Alan Brown's charge was in very good form at the beginning of last year when scoring twice and hopefully he'll be fit and ready to do himself justice. The youngster Beer Goggles did well in bumpers but has so far disappointed over hurdles and it's PINOTAGE who gets the vote. Peter Niven's charge, three times a winner on the Flat, has only looked moderate so far over timber but he's run a bit better on his last two starts and is on a fair mark.
Bradbury (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Broke well, held up, ridden over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 6th of 7, 31 1/4l behind Cahill (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 6f hcp (5) pol in Oct.
Should I Stay (FR) 9-4fav (11-12) Tracked leader, led after 5th, clear when jumped left and not fluent 3 out, went left last 2, edged left flat, driven out, won at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Apr beating Thoresby (11-9) by 4l, 7 ran.
Claude Carter 9-1 (10-6) Disputed lead until led 7th, ridden and headed 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 6, 14 3/4l behind Western Way (11-7) at Musselburgh 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Nov.
Beer Goggles (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Mid-division, kept on from 3 out, modest 4th next, 4th of 14, 28 3/4l behind Royal Vacation (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) gs in Oct.
Astrum 3-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 3 out, ridden and weakened before last, 7th of 9, dist behind Tickenwolf (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn (5) gd in May.
Celtic Abbey 14-1 (11-3) In rear, 6th after 4th, ridden entering straight, no threat, 6th of 7, 23 1/2l behind Rock The World (11-7) at Punchestown 2m Yielding in Dec.
Mondlicht (USA) 7-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, hit 2nd, effort before 3 out, weakened after next, 4th of 5, 13 3/4l behind Baywing (10-5) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Nov.
Silmi 28-1 (10-9) Towards rear, mistake 4th, behind 9th, plugged on fro last, never any chance, 5th of 11, 23 3/4l behind Alderbrook Lad (11-4) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in May.
Running Wolf (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Held up mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before last, tailed off, at Fakenham 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Mubrook (USA) 6-1 (11-9) Led to 3rd, ridden before 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 8, 36 1/2l behind Rayadour (11-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (5) sft in Jan.
Pinotage 4-1fav (10-6) Raced wide close up, ridden 2 out, weakened run in, 5th of 7, 11 3/4l behind Template (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
