held up behind, headway after 7th, chased front pair 3 out, ridden after next, left 2nd briefly last, kept on, no impression
went left 1st, close up on outside, lost place 4th, tailed off after 7th, soon pulled up
mid-division, not fluent 5 out, never able to challenge, weakened 2 out, tailed off
in touch on inside, went 2nd 4 out, challenged next, led when mistake 2 out, clear last, eased towards finish
tracked leader, jinked left and unseated rider 2nd
mid-division, hit 4th, lost place and behind 6th, tailed off 5 out
hampered 1st, close up on outside, outpaced 3 out, ridden and rallied after last, went 2nd closing stages, no chance with winner
hampered 1st, prominent, driven and outpaced by front pair 4 out, no impression next, ridden and kept on flat, no impression
mid-division, tracked leaders 3rd, outpaced after 4 out, ridden and no chance with winner when left 2nd at last, no extra and lost place closing stages
raced freely, led, hard pressed 3 out, headed next, one pace and no chance with winner when fell last
always behind, tailed off
towards rear, outpaced 5 out, soon beaten, tailed off
Most of these are returning from a break and making their debuts over the larger obstacles so the market may be a good guide. Hes No Trouble won a point-to-point on soft going and was lightly raced over timber. Way Out West has already run four times over fences, winning once and placing twice. He goes on the shortlist and is joined by two-times hurdles winner Manofthemoment. Espoir De Guye is almost certain to make a better chaser than hurdler while Cilaos Glace ended last season with a double over the smaller obstacles. SIMPLY THE BETTS (NAP) has a good record following a lay-off and is back over his best trip. The ground should also be perfect for Harry Whittington’s six-year-old, who gets the nod.
Vado Forte (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Jumped right, steadied start, took keen hold, headway to lead 5th, hit next, headed after 12th, weakened 3 out, last of 5, dist behind Sam Spinner (11-3) at Wetherby 2m 3f (4) gs in Oct.
Don't Ask (IRE) 8-1 (12-1) Mid-division and keen, soon tracked leaders, ridden before last, looking slightly held in 3rd when fell last, at Taunton 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Cilaos Glace (FR) 15-8fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, led going well 3 out, clear next, winged the last, eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 2m hcp (4) gs in Apr beating Flight To Nowhere (10-0) by 3 3/4l, 18 ran.
Simply The Betts (IRE) 9-4 (11-9) Held up in rear, closed 3rd, jumped left and not fluent next, went left 5th, pushed along after 4 out, beaten 4th when jumped left and not fluent 2 out, 4th of 6, 18l behind Big Time Dancer (10-11) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (3) gf in Dec.
Hes No Trouble (IRE) 6-5fav (11-6) Prominent, not fluent 3rd, outpaced 5th, went modest 4th before 3 out, no impression, 4th of 10, 30l behind Sofia's Rock (11-6) at Ludlow 2m (4) gs in Mar.
Another Theatre (IRE) 13-2 (12-4) Carried head high and raced awkwardly, never travelled in rear, tailed off, 6th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Sweet Adare (11-10) at Stratford 2m hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Espoir De Guye (FR) 9-2 (11-7) Chased leader until before 2 out, went 2nd again last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 7l behind Flash The Steel (11-7) at Warwick 2m (4) sft in Mar.
Golden Whisky (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Held up towards rear on outside, not fluent 5th, headway before 9th, lost place next, well behind when mistake 12th, pulled up before 4 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Katpoli (FR) 7-2 (12-5) Led, headed on long run before 2 out, lost 2nd and weakened soon after, tailed off and pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Way Out West (IRE) 5-4fav (11-6) Tended to jump left, led, went left and hit 7th, joined 2 out, headed last, readily outpaced run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Pointed And Sharp (11-12) at Taunton 2m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Well Said (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Jumped right, always well behind, tailed off 5th, pulled up after, at Stratford 2m hcp (3) gd in Aug.
Manofthemoment (IRE) 7-4fav (11-11) Tracked leaders, took narrow 2nd 4 out, 11/2 lengths down when blundered and unseated rider next, at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in May.
