disputed lead to 2nd, remained in touch, led 10th, headed 4 out, ridden after next, no chance with winner before 2 out
disputed lead, took narrow advantage from 2nd, headed 10th, in touch until weakened quickly and pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, struggling 9th, ridden and weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, struggling 9th, lost touch after next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
prominent on outside, lost place 10th, soon weakened and behind, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, outpaced by front pair after 4 out, well held in 3rd from next, refused last
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 10th, led 4 out, drew readily clear before 2 out, comfortably
NonRunner
NonRunner
Though he’s just turned 14, Pete The Feat is still very much a force in these veteran chases. Cloudy Bob arrives of the back of a victory at Taunton but does most of his winning on sharper tracks than this. Harry Topper was a Gold Cup prospect at one time but still looks too high in the weights on his reappearance. Fletchers Flyer is not the same horse that won a valuable stayers’ handicap at Punchestown in 2016 and Ballynagour has also deteriorated. GENTLEMAN JON has gone up 5lb for finishing a close-up third at Newbury but the winner of that race has scored again since and is now a leading Grand National fancy - a repeat showing here may well suffice.
Harry Topper 10-3fav (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, led after 16th, dived at next, ridden and headed 3 out, chased leader until 2 out, no extra last, 4th of 12, 18 1/4l behind Just A Par (11-10) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Fletchers Flyer (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, under pressure 2 out, weakened after last, 7th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Benbens (10-13) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Henri Parry Morgan 8-1 (12-0) Held up, headway chasing leaders 6th, outpaced 4 out, driven and plugged on run-in, 5th of 11, 18 1/4l behind Vinnie Lewis (11-5) at Plumpton 3m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
Pete The Feat (IRE) 12-1 (10-0) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 11th, led after 3 out, clear between last 2, mistake last, headed run-in, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Buywise (10-8) at Sandown 3m hcp (2) hvy in Jan.
Gentleman Jon 16-1 (10-6) Chased leaders on inside, 2nd 9th, led after 12th, narrowly headed 2 out, chased leader, every chance run-in, 3rd and held close home, 3rd of 12, 3/4l behind Gold Present (11-10) at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (2) gs in Dec.
Cloudy Bob (IRE) 15-8fav (11-0) Held up in rear but in touch, took closer order halfway, chased leaders 12th, led before last, ridden out, stayed on strongly, won at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Private Malone (11-6) by 2l, 7 ran.
Band Of Blood (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) With leader, not fluent 11th, led 14th, mistake 18th, headed 3 out, no impression on winner when mistake 2 out, weakened, 4th of 6, 32l behind Conas Taoi (10-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Ballynagour (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway 10th, outpaced after next, soon weakened, hampered and unseated rider 3 out, at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in May.
Pressurize (IRE) 20-1 (10-8) With leader to 9th, lost place when hit next, behind from 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Jan.
