soon in touch, not fluent 1st or 7th, mistake 8th (water), not fluent 4 out, ridden next, weakened approaching 2 out
prominent, mistake 2nd, ridden after 4 out, no impression on winner before 2 out, demoted to 4th and one pace flat
led until 7th, ridden and lost place 3 out, soon behind, tailed off
prominent, led 7th, not fluent 9th, clear 2 out, stayed on well
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, closed 3 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, stayed on, always behind held by winner
held up, mistakes 6th and 9th, ridden when blundered 3 out, never in contention
held up in rear, mistake 2nd, headway after 3 out, stayed on to take 3rd flat, keeping on close home
held up in rear, many mistakes, struggling 3 out, no impression
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Gilbarry faces a stiff task under top weight in this and Safari Journey has gone up again in the handicap following his third at Fontwell. Calgary Bay has form in better company and is often thereabouts around here, however, while Benbane Head has been in good form of late. Buck Mulligan is a consistent sort and Paul Webber saddles Edgbriar and the unexposed Marley Roca but we like the look of FINE PARCHMENT. A winner here in December last year, he was a progressive chaser last season and has been given plenty of time to recover from an unhappy experience in the Topham at Aintree. Charlie Mann's charge should be a decent price on his reappearance.
Safari Journey (USA) 12-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 6th or 4 out, headway 3 out, ran on flat, nearest finish, 3rd of 14, 1 1/4l behind Rio Gael (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Sep.
Benbane Head (USA) 9-2 (11-9) Pressed leader, led 6th, headed 8th, led 10th, clear 2 out, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Sep beating Horseshoe Reef (11-3) by 10l, 10 ran.
Edgbriar (FR) 40-1 (10-11) Chased leaders early, mid-division, weakened before 15th, 13th of 30, well behind Always Waining (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Billie Magern 16-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway when mistake 12th, struggling 15th, mistake 17th, soon well beaten, 8th of 24, 44l behind Junior (11-6) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Am hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Buck Mulligan 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway and every chance after 4 out, led before 2 out, soon headed, led again last, headed soon after one pace, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Benny Be Good (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Qianshan Leader (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, weakened 11th, tailed off and pulled up after 2 out, in a race won by Rebel Du Maquis (11-9) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in May, 10 ran.
Life Of A Luso (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden 2 out, kept on from last, 4th of 16, 6l behind Benny Be Good (11-8) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Marley Roca (IRE) 7-2fav (10-8) Chased leaders, 3rd 3 out, 2nd next, led on inside after 2 out, in command last, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May beating Exulto (10-5) by 7l, 8 ran.
Gilbarry (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, pulled hard, jumped right 2nd, headway approaching 9th, went 2nd 11th, hit next, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr beating Sam Lord (11-0) by 16l, 7 ran.
Calgary Bay (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) In touch, fell 4th, in a race won by Ballabriggs (11-0) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Held up mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Always Waining (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
