led, headed and tracked leaders 2nd, dropped to mid-division after 4th, reminders and gradually lost touch from halfway, pulled before last
towards rear, tracked leaders 3rd, ridden before 3 out, mistake 3 out, gradually weakened
tracked leader, lost place and ridden home turn, soon struggling
towards rear, ridden and headway before 3 out, stayed on not pace to challenge
handy, led 2nd, not fluent 7th, joined and mistake 3 out, ridden and headed narrowly 2 out, strongly pressed leader thereafter, kept on well, held towards finish
mid-division, ridden and weakened home turn
mid-division, headway to track front rank 7th, joined leader 3 out, pushed along and led narrowly 2 out, soon pressed, stayed on well to hold on closing stages
towards rear, ridden and gradually faded 3 out
mid-division, pushed along and lost place 4 out, ridden before 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, never troubled leaders
in rear, effort and headway before 3 out, chased leaders 3 out, ridden and weakened before last
Tim Vaughan’s yard has sent out both previous winners of this and Silver In Disguise can race off the same mark as when successful over fences here back in February having subsequently undergone wind surgery. But SAMTARA has the more recent form when beaten less than a length at Worcester and may finally open his account. Moon King won a maiden hurdle before landing an all-weather bumper but Certainly Red has been raised 8lb for winning over timber at Wincanton in March. Oxwich Bay recorded his win over hurdles back in 2017 though has won twice over fences since.
Vinnie The Hoddie (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Towards rear, headway into midfield 9th, pushed along 12th, made no impression from 4 out, 4th of 6, 29 1/4l behind Vision Des Flos (10-13) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Samtara 15-2 (12-0) Led chasing group, closer 4 out, edged left and led next, strongly pressed last, headed and no extra towards finish, 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Jesuitique (11-12) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Oct.
Vaziani (FR) 9-2 (11-11) Held up, slow 1st, not much room 3rd, losing touch when mistake 10th, pulled up before 3 out, at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Honor Grey (IRE) 13-2 (11-8) Raced out wide in mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 2nd, ridden and weakened after last (normal 3 out), 8th of 10, dist behind Conkwell Legend (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
Moon King (FR) Evensfav (11-4) Chased leader, led 2f out, wanting to hang left after, stayed on, ridden out, won at Newcastle 2m 4f (5) pol in Feb beating Arcanja (11-4) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Off The Planet (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, flattened 3 out, ridden next, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 9 1/2l behind Royal Pretender (11-4) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn (4) gd in Sep.
Certainly Red 11-1 (11-5) Held up in touch, travelled strongly behind leaders 3 out, led after 2 out, pulled clear before last where not fluent, stayed on strongly flat, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar beating Clondaw Promise (11-11) by 10l, 14 ran.
Silver In Disguise 4-1 (11-7) Led until 1st, chased leaders, lost place after 5th, headway 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, led flat, stayed on, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Keep Rolling (11-10) by 4l, 10 ran.
Dr Des (IRE) 22-1 (10-0) In rear, not always fluent, ridden and headway before 2 out, unable to get on terms, well held in 4th before last, 5th of 7, 6 3/4l behind Drumlee Watar (11-0) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gs in Sep.
Oxwich Bay (IRE) 9-4fav (12-6) Led chasing group behind clear leading pair, ridden after 4 out, headway to press leaders 2 out, stayed on from last, took 2nd on line, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Tico Times (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Mar.
