led, ridden and headed 3 out, one pace
tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3 out, not fluent last
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, weakened 11th, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, lost pace 6th, behind when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, close order 11th, ridden and mistake 12th, one pace flat
in rear, headway to join leaders 6th, jumped right next, mistake 8th and lost place, tailed off when unseated rider 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened 3 out
in touch, ridden and stayed on from 4 out
Barton Nic had a good season last term but starts off the current campaign plenty high enough in the weights as a result so preference is for Il'athou, who is taken to give weight away all round in a race where the main threats look to be Young Lorcan and Nice Try. The selection is a much better chaser than hurdler, is fully effective under testing ground conditions and seems to be on a fair mark so gets the vote to defy top weight. Idiome ran well enough under similar conditions at Bangor when last seen but may need the run on his return, while Nice Try may be better than he has shown previously this term having had a two-month break and with the yard of Venetia Williams now in good form. Young Lorcan has performed consistently well in two recent starts and can again be expected to be thereabouts but Il'athou has solid claims and is taken to carry his big weight to success.
Il'athou (FR) 7-1 (11-10) Chased leader to 9th, mistake and outpaced 11th, rallied under pressure approaching 3 out, kept on flat, 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Umbrella Man (11-8) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Wain Mountain 28-1 (10-8) Mid-division, blundered 7th and lost place, slightly hampered 10th (Becher's), soon well behind, 14th of 29, well behind Liberthine (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Barton Nic 8-1 (10-0) Behind from 6th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Kalca Mome (10-12) at Haydock 2m hcp chs (2) hvy in Feb.
No Visibility (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Soon in rear, never going pace, lost touch 9th pulled up 5 out in race won by Terre De Java (11-1) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Nice Try (IRE) 16-1 (10-8) Held up, headway approaching 10th weakened approaching 14th, 9th of 13, well behind Bob Bob Bobbin (11-11) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Nov.
Give Me Love (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway after 7th, led 8th, headed 4 out, weakened quickly 3 out, 7th of 11, 42l behind Briery Fox (11-11) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.
Young Lorcan 4-1fav (10-13) Held up, ridden 9th, outpaced before 2 out, stayed on strongly before last, ran on flat, 3rd of 12, 2l behind Heavy Weather (11-12) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Nov.
Idiome (FR) 9-2 (11-9) Held up in 4th, chased winner 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression when hit last, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Itsuptoharry (11-9) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in May.
