prominent, ridden and weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed after 4th, ridden 7th, weakened 3 out
tracked leaders, led after 4th, headed 4 out and weakened
held up mid-division, headway 5th, ridden to lead 4 out, mistake and headed briefly 3 out, under strong pressure when headed close home
held up, ridden and headway 4 out, all out to lead close home
in touch, not fluent 6th, weakened 4 out
always in rear
mid-division, ridden 7th, weakened and pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 7th, weakened 3 out
led, headed 3rd, behind from 5th
mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden and led briefly after 3 out, one pace
always in rear
towards rear, effort when mistake 4 out
mid-division when unseated rider 2nd
Nonrunner
Le Volfoni should strip fitter for his reappearance run when weakening late on before unseating his rider but the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding may have to settle for minor honours and preference is for the unexposed Lead On, with Don't Push It rated the pick of the remainder. The selection has only had four starts so far and has shown gradual improvement, running out the decent winner of a Cheltenham novices' hurdle in April when last seen. The Phillip Hobbs-trained gelding looks well treated for his handicap debut judged by that performance and looks worth a wager in this valuable contest. Top weight Special Envoy may struggle to give weight away all round, while the race fit Im Spartacus looks to be struggling against the handicapper. Nick Gifford's Sobers showed improved form last term and could be of interest although a bigger threat is likely to come from Jonjo O'Neill's Don't Push It who reverts to hurdling for his reappearance off a fair mark in comparison to his current chase mark. Lead On is open to plenty of improvement though and he gets the vote to make a winning return.
Special Envoy (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Led, headed after 2nd, remained close up, led 4 out, ridden after 2 out, 7 lengths clear when fell at the last in race won by Two Miles West (10-7) at Aintree 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr, 22 ran.
Supreme Prince (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) With leader, led briefly 8th, led again 5 out, headed when hampered and blundered 2 out, one pace after, 3rd of 5, 11l behind Three Mirrors (9-13) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gf in Apr.
Le Volfoni (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Mid-divison, some headway until weakened 2 out, mistake and unseated rider at the last in race won by Eden Linty (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd, 17 ran.
Lead On (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Tracked leader, challenged, jumped right 2 out, soon led, pressed last, kept on well run-in, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Nobelix (11-4) by 3l, 4 ran.
Don't Push It (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Not always fluent, held up, effort approaching 4 out, weakened approching 2 out, 5th of 6, 26l behind Twist Magic (11-1) at Aintree 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Warne's Way (IRE) 50-1 (10-7) Chased leaders until ridden and lost place approaching 3 out, soon no impression, 12th of 24, 22l behind Gaspara (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Mount Sandel (IRE) 20-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, lost place approaching 3rd, blundered 2 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Amaretto Rose (11-1) at Haydock 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Spidam (FR) 4-6fav (10-13) Led, jumped slowly 3rd, ridden and headed after 3 out, soon held, 2nd of 6, 6l behind Bring Me Sunshine (11-4) at Taunton 2m beg chs (4) sft in Mar.
Sobers (IRE) 15-8 (11-12) In touch, ridden to lead approaching last, kept on gamely, won at Folkestone 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec beating Kings Signal (11-5) by a shd, 7 ran.
Magnifico (FR) 50-1 (11-4) Headed 7th, weakened 4 out, 13th of 17, well behind Eden Linty (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Cream Cracker 16-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 5th, led approaching 4 out, headed soon after, every chance last, no extra, 2nd of 17, 2 1/2l behind Eden Linty (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Court Ruler 28-1 (11-7) Held up, blundered badly 3rd, never travelling after, 8th of 10, 35l behind Tagula Blue (11-4) at Ascot 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Dec.
Bring Me Sunshine (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Keen, mid-divison, headway after 7, led after 4 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened, 4th of 17, 6l behind Eden Linty (10-6) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
Nanga Parbat (FR) 13-2 (10-10) Behind, headway on wide outside between last 2, kept on, never nearer, 8th of 17, 11l behind Hasty Prince (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Apr '06.
Im Spartacus 15-2 (11-2) Held up towards rear, stayed on from 2 out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 12, 9l behind From Dawn To Dusk (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd.
