tracked leaders, challenged 4 out, led 3 out, headed last, still upsides flat, held towards finish
prominent, awkward 1st, soon led, headed 2nd, led 4th until 4 out, lost place before 2 out
held up towards rear, took keen hold, headway 3 out, 4th and beaten before last, weakened flat
held up in rear, headway 2 out, led last, stayed on, edged left towards finish, driven out
held up towards rear, pulled hard, closed 4 out, blundered 2 out, soon weakened
mid-division, headway 4 out, 2nd 2 out, every chance before approaching last, 3rd and unable to quicken flat
led until after 1st, led 2nd until 4th, led 4 out, headed 3 out, soon went left, weakened before last
tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd or 4 out, weakened before 3 out
NonRunner
Paul Nicholls has trained five of the last 11 winners of this and relies on Grand Sancy but he’s still awaiting a first victory over hurdles and was pulled up in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in April when PADLEYOUROWNCANOE finished fourth. Recent rain is definitely a plus for Colin Tizzard’s charge and he can defy top weight on his reappearance, though soft going would also see Mercenaire enter calculations. Nayati also likes the mud and Comrade Conrad had Knight Destroyer behind when third off this mark at Ascot in March. Dan Skelton’s bottom weight has had wind surgery and been gelded since last seen and blinkers are applied today. Cubswin and Phoenix Dawn are race-fit but will need to improve again to take a hand in the finish here.
Padleyourowncanoe 25-1 (11-0) Led, headed before 6th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 9th of 10, dist behind We Have A Dream (11-0) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Mercenaire (FR) 25-1 (11-6) Jumped right, chased leaders, ridden and lost place before 4th, well behind 3 out, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Ballywood (FR) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before next, tailed off, last of 10, dist behind Global Citizen (11-2) at Kempton 2m (1) gd in Feb.
Grand Sancy (FR) 16-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon well beaten, pulled up before last, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Knight Destroyer (IRE) 9-2 (9-8) Tracked leaders, lost place over 3f out, well beaten over 1f out, 9th of 11, 8 1/4l behind Cornborough (9-3) at Chester 1m 2f hcp (4) sft in Sep.
Nayati (FR) 4-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, blundered 4 out, outpaced next, lost place before 2 out, well beaten when mistake last, 8th of 10, 29 3/4l behind Solomon Grey (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Phoenix Dawn 20-1 (10-9) Chased leader until after 2nd, handy 3rd, led before 3 out, clear before next, driven out to hold on, won at Plumpton 2m hcp (3) gd in Sep beating Jumping Jack (10-6) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Comrade Conrad (IRE) 10-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, lost place 4th, closed 6th, weakened and edged left after 2 out, 6th of 13, 23 3/4l behind Cool Mix (10-12) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Cubswin (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Raced keenly in touch, challenged 2 out, ridden to lead soon after last, headed near finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Wind Place And Sho (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
