chased leaders, took closer oder 13th, ridden to lead 3 out, headed next, weakened from last
always behind, struggling from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders when fell 10th
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, unseated rider 4th
always towards rear, struggling from 9th, tailed off halfway
mid-division, mistake 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened next
tracked leader, ridden, outpaced after 4 out, disputing 3rd when mistake, unseated rider last
held up in rear, steady headway 17th, ridden to chase leaders approaching 3 out, led next, stayed on from last
mid-division, steady headway 5 out, chased leaders approaching 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on from last
led, blundered 9th, ridden, headed 3 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden, not fluent 3 out, weakened next
always towards rear, pulled up before 8th, dismounted
mid-division, lost place 12th, reminders after 15th, hard ridden approaching 3 out, stayed on approaching last, nearest at finish
Bang And Blame has a featherweight here and may be able to steal a march on the chief rivals Robbo and Prince of Slane. The selection is in a rich vein of form and he won in impressive fashion when beating Weapons Inspector at Sedgefield last time. He is sure to make this a real test for his rivals and he looks sure to give a good account of himself. Robbo won well here last time but that was his first success for over a year and he is far from consistent, so for that reason we are happy to take him on. Prince of Slane is a thorough stayer who will appreciate today's ground conditions and every yard of this trip so he has to enter calculations. Gunther McBride has been a fantastic servant to connections but he has not as good as he once was, comments that could also apply to Virgin Soldier. We are therefore happy to put forward the progressive Bang And Blame as the one to beat.
Gunther McBride (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Chased leaders until weakened 3 out, 6th of 14, 20l behind Graphic Approach (11-6) at Sandown 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs.
Robbo 11-1 (11-8) Prominent, lost 8th, headway 12th, led last, stayed on well, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Dec beating Lothian Falcon (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Granit d'Estruval (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Jumped right, with leaders, led 4th to approaching 6th, lost place 9th, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Eurotrek (10-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) sft, 13 ran.
Virgin Soldier (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, ridden and no impression from next, 4th of 9, 14l behind Prince of Slane (10-5) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Supreme Breeze (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, one pace from next, 4th of 11, 12l behind Victory Gunner (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Dec.
Capybara (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 13th, weakened approaching 4 out, 5th of 11, 21l behind Victory Gunner (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Dec.
Benrajah (IRE) 9-4fav (11-1) Jumped well, led, ridden last, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Prince of Slane (10-5) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Celioso (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Prominent, led 3rd, headed before next, weakening when fell at the 12th in race won by Robbo (11-8) at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Dec, 11 ran.
Prince of Slane 4-1 (10-5) Held up headway 4 out, went 2nd next, stayed on under pressure to lead flat, won at Catterick 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd beating Benrajah (11-1) by 2l, 9 ran.
Harlov (FR) 16-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, weakened approaching 3 out, 8th of 11, 24l behind Victory Gunner (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs in Dec.
Bang And Blame (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Led from 3rd, quickened to go clear 11th, ridden 2 out, easily, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft beating Weapons Inspector (11-12) by 20l, 12 ran.
Midnight Gunner 12-1 (10-6) Led to 2nd, in touch, lost place 12th, tailed off 16th, 6th of 12, well behind Dunbrody Millar (9-13) at Plumpton 3m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) sft.
Monty's Quest (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Chased leaders, disputed lead 10th to 13th, outpaced 3out, 4th of 10, 19l behind Interdit (11-12) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs.
High Cotton (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, mistake 12th, chased winner from 16th, ridden 4 out, kept on from last, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Briar's Mist (10-5) at Newcastle 3m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft.
