in rear, not fluent 3rd, clipped heels before bend after 11th, in touch 12th, soon ridden, lost touch after 14th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
led until 2nd, tracked leaders, mistake 14th, led approaching 5 out, headed before last, rallied flat to get back up post (no time taken)
prominent, lost place 12th, behind 14th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 5 out
held up, not fluent 8th, headway to lead 12th, headed approaching 5 out, not fluent and rallied 2 out, led approaching last, headed post
held up in rear, reminder after 11th, headway next, weakened approaching 5 out
chased leaders, blundered 13th, 4th approaching 5 out, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, led 7th, mistake and headed 11th, mistakes 12th and 13th, 3rd and beaten 2 out, weakened last
led 2nd, headed 7th, led 11th, ridden and headed when not fluent 12th, weakened approaching 15th, pulled up after 5 out
Ethiopia finished behind the enigmatic Zimbabwe at Plumpton last month but is fancied to turn the tables on better terms here, though he's become disappointing himself lately. It's a long time since veteran Kiltimoney last visited the winner's circle while Bobby Donald is still a maiden after 10 starts over fences. Ballyman has become frustrating to follow, while You Can Of Course returns from a break here so this is probably best left to MIDNIGHT DIAMOND. Tim Vaughan's charge showed his liking for a test of stamina when winning by 40 lengths over 3m4f at Sedgefield in January and is only 5lb higher now.
Casual Garcia 28-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, slow 13th, soon lost place, detatched before 6 out, moderate 4th, last of 4, well behind Fin Vin De Leu (11-3) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Mar.
Ethiopia 7-4fav (10-3) Led until 2nd, chased leader until dropped to 4th after 4th, dropped to rear and driven 8th, went modest 4th after 3 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, 25l behind Absolute Shambles (10-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Mar.
Bobby Donald (IRE) 12-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders in 3rd, outpaced 5 out, chased leading pair from last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Bardolet (11-2) at Catterick 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Midnight Diamond (IRE) 9-2 (10-3) Made all, clear from 9th, unchallenged, very easily, won at Sedgefield 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gs in Jan beating Ontrack (11-2) by 40l, 12 ran.
You Can of Course (IRE) 7-4fav (10-10) Tracked leading pair, headway 11th, chased winner 4 out, tried to challenge between last 2, went right and no impression last, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Portrait Royale (11-12) at Folkestone 3m 1f hcp 0-90 (5) sft in Nov.
Ballyman (IRE) 11-4fav (9-11) Tracked leaders, closed 4 out, pressed winner 3 out, stayed on flat, not pace of rival, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Goring One (10-12) at Lingfield 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs in Mar.
Kiltimoney (IRE) 12-1 (9-9) Chased leaders, led 8th, headed 10th, stayed well there, chance when pecked 5 out, stayed on same pace from 3 out, 3rd of 15, 9l behind Ilewin Tom (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd.
Zimbabwe (FR) 13-2 (9-11) Pressed leader, led 2nd, reminders 6th, headed after next, stayed in touch under pressure, went modest 3rd before 3 out, 3rd of 5, 20l behind Absolute Shambles (10-6) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Mar.
