led to 6th, weakened from 5 out, tailed off, pulled up
tracked leaders, weakened before 3 out
towards rear, headway 5 out, every chance 4 out, challenged on bit 3 out, led 2 out, ran on strongly
tracked leaders, lost place before 4 out
prominent, every chance 4 out, chased winner from last, lost 2nd place towards finish, no extra
tracked leader, weakened before 4 out
always behind
held up mid-division, in 5th before last, no impression
prominent, led 6th, headed 2 out, lost 2nd place last, kept on to regain 2nd place towards finish, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, weakened from 8th
in rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace
It's interesting that Richard Johnson rides Tom Weston's WESTERN CLIMATE rather than Philip Hobbs' recent Wincanton scorer Steely Addition, who has a penalty. The top weight made a perfectly respectable reappearance at Uttoxeter and beat a decent sort in Gayebury at Hereford last season. Red Rising is totally unexposed having won his only race so far over hurdles by 15 lengths. Waterloo Warrior has gone close a couple of times at Exeter over this trip but March's course winner Rafafie tries a new trip. Say My Name has also had a break.
Western Climate (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Prominent, led after 2nd, headed 4th, effort 2 out, stayed on same pace approaching last, 3rd of 6, 6 1/4l behind Beneficial Joe (11-3) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Catching On (IRE) 40-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, lost place when not much room after 4 out, soon outpaced, behind before next, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind No Hassle Hoff (11-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Steely Addition (IRE) 6-1 (11-13) Held up towards rear, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, every chance 2 out, led approaching and not fluent last, all out, held on gamely, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Jennys Day (11-12) by 2l, 17 ran.
Billy Dutton 15-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, fell 4th, at Cheltenham 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Red Rising (IRE) 4-6fav (11-4) Tracked leader, led 5 out, blundered 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon clear, won at Catterick 3m 1f (4) sft in Feb beating Ronn The Conn (11-4) by 15l, 5 ran.
Say My Name (IRE) 14-1 (11-2) Prominent, led 3rd, not fluent 6th, headed 7th, soon led again, headed 4 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 13, 7 1/4l behind Doctor Look Here (10-5) at Warwick 3m 2f hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Hey Bill (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) In touch in rear, pushed along briefly 3 out, pulled up soon after, at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Malapie (IRE) 4-1fav (11-13) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, hampered 3rd, not fluent next or 9th, weakened before omitted 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 3m hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Waterloo Warrior (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out to chase leaders, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 2 3/4l behind Midnight Request (11-12) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Norse Legend 33-1 (10-13) Always behind, hit 4th and 7th, tailed off, 10th of 16, 24 1/2l behind Taj Badalandabad (11-8) at Ascot 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Rafafie 5-2 (10-8) Chased leaders, 2nd soon after 3 out, led before next, hung left between last 2, ridden and held on gamely closing stages, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Mar beating We'll Be There (10-3) by nk, 10 ran.
