chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, stayed on well approacing last, never able to challenge
led, challenged 3 out, quickened clear next, pushed out, impressive
held up in touch when fell 7th
held up in touch, headway 5 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, soon under pressure, faded flat
chased leaders, mistake 4 out, soon lost place and never recovered
tracked leader, effort approaching 3 out, soon hard ridden, kept on under pressure, not pace of winner
Nonrunner
TATANIANO and Woolcombe Folly will be aiming at bigger prizes later this term and are unlikely to be fully wound up here. However, it's still hard to look beyond them with preference for the former in the hope that he can rediscover his very best form which has seen him land Grade 1 and Grade 2 contests. Even his relatively disappointing last effort in the spring behind French Opera would probably suffice. Woolcombe Folly was touted in certain quarters as a Champion Chase horse but failed to move on from some excellent handicap efforts in the latter stages of last season. This looks a good starting point for the new campaign. Gilbarry looks the most likely to benefit on his first run for the O'Neill team if the Nicholls pair fail to fire.
Woolcombe Folly (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 8th, chasing leaders soon after, beaten when hit 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 13, 29l behind Silk Drum (9-9) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Tataniano (FR) 6-4fav (11-6) Raced keenly, tracked leading pair, narrow lead after 2nd, pressed, narrowly headed before 3 out, lost 2nd before next and outpaced soon after, kept on again flat, 5th of 6, 4 1/2l behind French Opera (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) gf in Apr.
Gilbarry (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, pulled hard, jumped right 2nd, headway approaching 9th, went 2nd 11th, hit next, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Ayr 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr beating Sam Lord (11-0) by 16l, 7 ran.
Oh Crick (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Held up, not fluent 1st or 4th, pushed along approaching 4 out, no impression, 6th of 10, 30l behind Beggars Cap (10-9) at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Cadoudalas (FR) 10-11fav (11-8) Tracked leader, challenged before 4 out, led before 3 out, hard ridden and pressed after last, kept on, all out, won at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Feb beating Indian Groom (10-12) by nk, 5 ran.
Nomecheki (FR) 25-1 (11-1) Soon behind, weakened 5 out, tailed off when pulled up before2 out, in a race won by Oiseau de Nuit (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Phidippides (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Took keen hold and not always fluent, tracked winner 1st, stumbled 10th, 1/2 length down 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon switched right, no impression last, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Hector's Choice (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
