close up on outer, blundered 2nd, soon towards rear, reminders after 5th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders and keen, every chance 3 out, ridden before and pecked 2 out, chased winner and always held
towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before 2 out
held up behind, headway 6 out, chased leaders before 3 out, kept on same pace
led before 2nd, headed before 4 out, weakened before 3 out
in rear, pushed along before 6th, ridden before 3 out, never dangerous
held up in touch, led 2 out, clear and not fluent last, kept on well
held up mid-division, blundered 5th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
towards rear and pushed along, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before last
close up, led before 4 out, headed 2 out, weakened after last
tracked leaders and keen, fell 4 out
towards rear, pushed along after 4 out, never dangerous
held up towards rear, pushed along and headway before 3 out, soon chased leaders, kept on same pace
led until before 2nd, weakening when hampered 4 out, tailed off
Water Garden travelled strongly for a long way at Cheltenham last time but couldn't match the finishing speed of Abnaki and is 6lb higher here. Sea Saffron likes it here and is 5lb lower than when successful on his latest start over fences but this is a step up in class for Southwell runner-up Railway Rico and the lightly-raced Ruben Cotter is still a maiden under Rules and was pulled up when tailed off in a Grade 2 at Haydock on his latest start in February. Pause And Clause has to be worth a second look, however, after coming back to form when second at Cheltenham while Pavillon Bleu could get involved if in the mood. THEDEBOFTHEYEAR is back on a winning mark and, after scoring at Taunton in March, ran a fine race when sixth in a Listed contest at Cheltenham last month. She gets a tentative vote.
The Gossmoor Yank (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders, hit 11th, not fluent and lost place 16th, mistake next, soon lost touch, tailed off, 4th of 5, well behind Gurtacrue (10-8) at Wincanton 3m 1f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Jan.
Water Garden (FR) 5-1fav (11-11) Held up, headway on outside from 7th, close up when bumped 2 out, brought stands side on bend before last, soon every chance, ridden and stayed on flat, no impression on winner final 200 yards, 2nd of 17, 3l behind Abnaki (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Pause And Clause (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Held up on outside, took keen hold, closed after 4th, switched left approaching last, went 2nd flat, stayed on, no impression, 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Michel Le Bon (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Apr.
Global Power (IRE) 5-1 (10-12) Held up, took keen hold, not fluent 7th, headway 3 out, ridden next, one pace approaching last, no impression, 5th of 9, 9l behind Michel Le Bon (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) sft in Apr.
Heathcliff (IRE) 33-1 (11-11) Reluctant to race, never going well and always behind, tailed off 8th, 16th of 17, well behind Golden Call (11-4) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
No Principles 15-2 (11-8) Behind, headway halfway, under pressure 5 out, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, stayed on to lead after last, all out, won at Market Rasen 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec beating Rossbrin (11-0) by nk, 9 ran.
Ruben Cotter (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, pushed along before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Brindisi Breeze (11-8) at Haydock 3m nov hdl G2 (1) hvy in Feb, 9 ran.
Flaming Charlie (IRE) 8-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, hit 7th, lost 2nd 12th, bad mistake 4 out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 39l behind Brackloon High (10-8) at Leicester 2m 7f nov ltd hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.
Pavillon Bleu (FR) 50-1 (11-8) Mid-division on outside, pushed along in rear after 2nd, mistake 8th, well beaten 3 out, tailed off, last of 14, well behind Benbens (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Buck Magic (IRE) 2-1fav (11-4) Held up, not fluent 2nd, headway 6th, not fluent 3 out, stayed on under pressure flat, pressing for 2nd close home, 4th of 14, 1 3/4l behind Benbens (11-1) at Newbury 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar.
Railway Rico (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Led at decent pace, blundered badly 6th, joined 2 out, ridden and headed between last 2, soon no extra, 2nd of 5, 9l behind Westlin' Winds (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f clm hdl (5) gs in Mar.
Thedeboftheyear 33-1 (10-2) With leader until not fluent 5th, every chance 2 out, outpaced approaching last, stayed on flat, no impression, 6th of 11, 10l behind Kells Belle (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f mrs lst hdl (1) sft in Apr.
Slippers Percy (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) In touch on outside, blundered 14th, soon lost place and behind, tailed off, 21st of 23, well behind Sunnyhillboy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-145) (5yo+) (2) gd in Mar.
Sea Saffron 7-2fav (11-4) In rear, headway 9th, went 2nd 5 out, led before 4 out, soon clear, hung right after last, well in command when swearved badly left last 50 yards, pushed out towards finish, won at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy beating Tim The Chair (11-5) by 26l, 7 ran.
Deep Pockets (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Prominent, ridden approaching 9th, outpaced after 3 out, well beaten next, 5th of 8, 20l behind Rossmore Lad (11-9) at Towcester 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.