made all, joined 3 out, 3 lengths ahead 2 out, driven out, unchallenged
mistake 1st, held up in rear, good headway chasing leaders 8th, went 2nd 12th until before 5 out, weakened next
chased winner until 12th, handy 3rd, not fluent 7th, 2nd again before 5 out, every chance 3 out, held when pecked 2 out, held on for 2nd
chased leaders, plugged on in 3rd from 3 out, closed on 2nd but no chance with winner
chased leaders, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
raced keenly, chased leaders, pushed along before 5 out, 3rd when blundered 4 out, weakened next
raced keenly, held up, headway chasing leaders 3rd, steadied rear after 7th, hit 10th, tailed off 13th
NonRunner
Cloth Cap was coming on in leaps and bounds last season but has yet to encounter going this soft over fences. Drinks Interval can be hard to peg back if she gets into a rhythm and it would be no surprise if fared better than stablemate Royal Vacation on their respective reappearances. Ballyoptic may need a confidence-booster but Relentless Dreamer looks a threat to all if fully wound-up as his stable is going well and he was impressive when grinding out a victory over a longer trip at Cheltenham a year ago. LIL ROCKERFELLER hasn’t always been foot-perfect over fences but he has an engine and a touch of class so might be the one to beat if the obstacles don't get in the way.
Ballyoptic (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, under pressure and lost place when fell 27th, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Royal Vacation (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Towards rear of mid-division, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 7-4fav (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, mistake 10th, soon lost place, mistake 11th, rallied before 3 out, beaten 2 out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 7, 3 3/4l behind Royal Village (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Aug.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Mid-division, headway 13th, not much room on inside after 3 out, strong challenge from next, led flat, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Oct beating Cogry (10-4) by nk, 16 ran.
Drinks Interval 5-1 (11-0) Prominent, pushed along after 5 out, lost place after next, behind from 3 out, went badly left next, pulled up before last, at Perth 3m lst (1) gs in Apr.
Cloth Cap (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced after 4 out, ridden to chase front pair after next, stayed on under pressure flat, just failed for 2nd, no impression with winner, 3rd of 23, 4l behind Takingrisks (10-1) at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Captain Chaos (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Prominent, led narrowly 15th, ridden and headed turning in, lost place 2 out, kept on same pace, well held from last, 6th of 23, 15 1/4l behind Any Second Now (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 11-4 (11-12) Led to 2nd, chased leader to 10th, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, ridden approaching last, one pace, 3rd of 5, 7 1/2l behind Hepijeu (11-7) at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gf in Jun.
