chased leaders, nudged along 8th, ridden after 11th, weakened after 14th, tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 11th, weakened 13th, tailed off
led until after 1st, with leader until 14th, soon ridden, weakened before next
not fluent 1st, led soon after, ridden approaching 4 out, hung left approaching last, caught near finish
in touch until weakened 14th, behind when pulled up before 2 out
held up, reminders after 7th, headway 12th to track leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, hit 3 out, hung left after last, switched right and ran on well to lead near finish
held up, not fluent 1st and 3rd, headway after 11th, ridden to chase leader approaching 4 out, mistake 3 out, weakened after next
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Dusty Dane has run well when placed in his last two starts and Bill Turner's gelding is entitled to be thereabouts again off a 1lb lower mark than last time but he may have to settle for minor honours once more with preference for SEA WALL, who gets the vote with Bernard rated the pick of the remainder. The selection was pulled up when last seen in December having been well beaten the time before but Jonjo O'Neill has his team in good form so lack of a recent run need not be of concern and he looks worth siding with off what seems a favourable mark. Former hunter chaser Dennis The Legend has run well in his last four starts in handicaps and should again be thereabouts. He makes more appeal than Innocent Rebel, who ran better at Newton Abbot last time but seems a shade high in the weights at present. David Pipe's Learning The Blues is coming down to a fair mark and has to be considered on his reappearance but a bigger threat is likely to come from recent course and distance winner Bernard, who does have a 7lb penalty to carry for his win last week. Sea Wall does not have an obvious chance on his most recent form but Jonjo O'Neill has his string in good heart and he may be worth chancing.
Tora Bora (GER) 25-1 (11-2) Chased winner, reminder after 6th, ridden 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 17th, in a race won by Hello Bud (11-12) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Learning The Blues (FR) 9-2 (10-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 8th, weakened and tailed off from 11th, 6th of 9, well behind Dream Garden (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov chs (3) sft in Oct.
Brave Jo (FR) 20-1 (10-10) Led to approaching 6th, chased leader, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 14, 28l behind Alfred's Tower (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Apr.
Sea Wall 20-1 (11-1) Led, headed 11th, behind when pulled up 5 out, in a race won by Stagecoach Opal (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Innocent Rebel (USA) 16-1 (11-3) In touch, joined leader 11th, ridden and every chance after 4 out, one pace from after next, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Keepitsecret (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf.
Dennis The Legend 7-1 (9-13) Held up last, headway from 14th, ridden 16th, left 3rd and stayed on well from 2 out, went 2nd close home, 2nd of 10, 8l behind Terrible Tenant (10-1) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd.
Los Suenos (IRE) 5-2 (10-9) In touch, not fluent 7th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after next, hit 2 out, 5th of 9, 22l behind Keepitsecret (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf.
Dusty Dane (IRE) 3-1 (10-13) Disputed 3rd, tracked winner 8th until mistake 14th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on again from 2 out, 3rd of 5, 18l behind Fire And Rain (11-9) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Direct Flight (IRE) 80-1 (11-7) Lost place 9th, pulled up 2 out, in a race won by Stagecoach Opal (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec, 16 ran.
Bernard 20-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, stayed on strongly from 3 out, led last, ridden clear, won at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf beating Ashwell Lad (11-4) by 6l, 15 ran.
