always behind, tailed off 7th, pulled up before next
led, headed 3rd until 6th, ridden after 5 out, narrowly headed when blundered and unseated rider next
mid-division, struggling 7th, headway approaching 5 out, weakening when left 3rd 4 out
chased leaders until 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out
took keen hold with leader, led 3rd until 6th, chased leader, ridden approaching 5 out, gradually weakened
chased leaders, hit 7th and 8th, travelling well and led 3 out, in command when hit last, pushed out
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 8th
chased leaders, pushed along from 2nd, not fluent and lost place 4th, stayed on steadily from 5 out but never on terms with leaders again
mid-division, headway 5th, led and pecked 4 out, soon ridden, went right and headed next, held when went right 2 out and last
Nonrunner
Gentle John looks the obvious choice here, with Ormello and Waterspray also expected to run well. Phillip Hobbs has his string in fine fettle and Gentle John comes here following an excellent second behind Brave Villa at Uttoxeter. With improvement to come he does look the one to be on. Ormello has been in good heart this season and finished a close third behind The Wicketkeeper at Perth last time out. That winner has given the form a massive boost and so Lucinda Russell's top-weight has to rate a big danger. Waterspray has also been running well of late and his second behind O'Toole last time out stands up well in the context of this event. Pop Ahead has a bit to prove but hails from a top yard so any market confidence would be intersting. However Gentle John has plenty of scope for improvement and is a confident choice.
Ormello (FR) 40-1 (11-11) Held up, headway approaching 4 out, ridden next, kept on flat, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind The Wicketkeeper (11-4) at Perth 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Sept.
Waterspray (AUS) 7-1 (11-12) Led, driven along approaching 2 out, headed before last, one pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/2l behind O'Toole (11-10) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf.
Arumun (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders until weakened 6th, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by My Turn Now (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Dyneburg (POL) 14-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, lost place 5th, weakened 9th, 4th of 9, 28l behind The Wicketkeeper (11-2) at Hereford 2m nov chs (4) gf in Oct.
Gentle John (FR) 7-4fav (11-3) Tracked leader, led 2nd, clear 3rd, mistake 4th, ridden 7th, headed last, soon beaten, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Brave Villa (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Oct.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 3 out, stayed on again approaching last, 4th of 15, 6l behind Strawberry (11-3) at Newbury 2m nov hcp hdl 0-115 (3) sft in Mar.
Ballynattin Buck (IRE) 9-1 (12-7) Nrly pulled up in race won by Corkan (12-7) at Bredwardine 3m ptp gf in May, 7 ran.
Polished 14-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led 4 out, headed before 2 out, weakened last, 7th of 11, 10l behind Glimmer of Light (10-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Pop Ahead (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Held up in mid-division, shaken up before 7th, never near leaders, 8th of 16, 14l behind Kia Kaha (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Something Wells (FR) 9-2 (11-7) In touch, ridden well after 7th, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 16, 19l behind Royal Katidoki (11-4) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Mar.
