mid-division, hampered on inside 4 out, lost place soon after, tailed off
mid-division, hit 4th, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd after 2 out, no impression when weakened to 4th after last
in rear, some headway from after 3 out, never in contention
chased leaders, ridden and weakened before 3 out
towards rear, hampered 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
in rear, ridden and struggling 4 out, never a factor
close up on inside, chased leaders 6th, badly hampered on inside 4 out, not recover
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 6th, weakened after next
led until headed 6th, ridden and weakened before 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders, fell independently 4 out
chased leader, led 6th, ridden and joined last, headed soon after, no chance with easy winner, kept on well for clear 2nd
chased leaders, went 2nd after 6th, going well when fell 4 out
chased leaders, hit 5th, soon lost place and weakened under pressure, tailed off
towards rear, headway on wide outside before 2 out, went modest 3rd soon after last, never any chance with leading duo
mid division, pushed along and in touch when hampered 4 out, soon lost place, not recover, tailed off
always behind, struggling 4 out, tailed off
held up in mid-division, smooth headway when hampered 4 out, went 2nd on bit 2 out, cruised up to challenge last, soon led, hard held
always about same place in mid-division
chased leaders until ridden and weakened rapidly 6th, tailed off
held up in rear, hampered 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, stayed on before last, never going pace to get involved
headway to mid-division after after 4th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
behind, some headway before 2 out, never in contention
towards rear, effort on outside 3 out, no impression 2 out
Nicky Henderson has won this race for the past two seasons so it may be worth chancing the unbeaten AEGEAN DAWN. Formerly in the care of Robert and Sally Alner and out of a half-sister to their Gold Cup winner Cool Dawn, our selection should be capable of more now joining his new yard. He's been off the track since winning well enough over 2m2f at Folkestone and seems sure to improve for 2m5f, while his ability to perform when fresh is a big positive. Chance Du Roy heads the list of dangers off a very generous hurdles rating given his improvement over bigger obstacles in the spring, especially with the yard having started the season so well. Rhum failed to get home over three miles here last time and should improve for the drop in trip but he has a little to prove along with Traffic Article who steps into handicap company having looked a tad fortunate at Downpatrick. Pro Pell and the unexposed Dynaste also enter calculations in a fiendishly competitive race.
Ponmeoath (IRE) 14-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden into 9th 2 out, 8th last, kept on same pace, 7th of 20, 10l behind Kaiser So Say (11-0) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens23 gd in Oct.
Sound Stage 10-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway and in touch 9th, chased leaders 3 out, close up in 4th when not fluent next, went 3rd last, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 13, 13l behind The Shy Man (10-11) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Amore Mio (GER) 7-4 (11-0) Led, headed approaching 3 out, kept on from last, no extra towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Midnight Chase (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chase (4) gs in Mar.
Tarvini (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Behind, pushed along and reminders halfway, no headway, tailed off, 10th of 13, well behind The Shy Man (10-11) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Chance Du Roy (FR) 3-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, headway approaching and not fluent 3 out, led next, soon clear, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr beating Herons Well (11-9) by 5l, 7 ran.
Mickmacmagoole (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Mid-division, lost place approaching 2 out, 9th of 16, 26l behind Gold Reef (10-13) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (3) gs.
Scampi Boy (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) In touch headway to chase leaders 4 out, every chance when carried right and hit 2 out, weakened soon after, 11th of 17, 18l behind Russian War (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct.
King's Revenge 9-2 (11-4) Held up in touch, pushed along and outpaced to last when not fluent 3rd, driven and headway to 3rd 2 out, stayed on to 2nd flat, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Robain (10-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Oct.
Blazing Buck 16-1 (10-13) Led until 4th, lost 2nd next, well there until ridden along and weakened from 4 out, 6th of 11, 21l behind For Non Stop (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.
Turner Brown (IRE) 4-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, ridden in 2nd 2 out, 3rd entering straight, stayed on well to lead inside final furlong, won at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl 80-109 gd in Oct beating Khayar (10-4) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Dynaste (FR) 5-1 (10-12) Led, ridden after 3 out, headed when blundered last, weakened flat, 3rd of 10, 18l behind Owen Glendower (10-12) at Worcester 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Oct.
Traffic Article (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, headway into close 2nd after 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden and challenged last, kept on well to assert run-in, won at Downpatrick 2m 6f mdn hdl gd in Oct beating Good Time Donie (10-11) by 7l, 15 ran.
Rhum (FR) 8-1 (11-6) In touch, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on same pace under pressure from next, no impression, 5th of 13, 8l behind Thelobstercatcher (10-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Entertain Me 22-1 (10-7) Always prominent on outside, led 3 out, in command last, edged left flat, ran on well, won at Aintree 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun beating Romance Dance (11-3) by 7l, 11 ran.
Stripe Me Blue 16-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, mistake and reminders 2nd, slipped up on bend after 3rd, in a race won by Mous Of Men (10-6) at Sandown 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Apr, 16 ran.
Global Flyer 28-1 (11-4) In touch, went 2nd after 6th, led after 3 out, headed when went left and not fluent 2 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 15, 25l behind Mister Hyde (11-1) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Aegean Dawn 8-13fav (10-12) Chased clear leader, closed before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, led well before last, pushed 3 lengths clear when hit last, ridden to assert final 100 yards, won at Folkestone 2m 1f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs in Nov '09 beating Near The Water (10-12) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Sandofthecolosseum (IRE) 6-4 (11-0) Prominent, led approaching 6th, ridden and headed when not fluent 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 12, 24l behind Cashel Bay (10-7) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Apr.
Bally Sands (IRE) 17-2 (10-11) Led, mistake 2nd, soon headed, with winner until ridden 9th, 5th and beaten when mistake 2 out, 5th of 12, 18l behind Genuine Pearl (11-0) at Worcester 3m mdn hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Max Bygraves 7-2fav (11-10) Held up, headway 4 out, led next, under pressure last, stayed on well, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Sep '09 beating Nudge And Nurdle (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Pro Pell (IRE) 15-2 (10-1) Mid-division on inside, headway 3 out, chasing leaders when blundered badly and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Russian War (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Oct, 17 ran.
Boogie Dancer 10-1 (10-1) Behind, effort on inside to chase leaders 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 11, 23l behind Astracad (11-6) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Oct.
Phare Isle (IRE) 16-1 (10-11) Held up behind, headway on outside 9th, chased leaders 3 out to next, soon weakened, 9th of 17, well behind Corso Palladio (11-0) at Aintree 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Oct.
Very Edgy (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Towards rear, some headway approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 16, 39l behind Gus Macrae (11-1) at Hereford 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (4) sft in Mar.
