tracked winner until 6 out, soon lost place, tailed off 4 out
in touch in 4th place, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, went 3rd from 3 out, kept on to take 2nd place towards finish, no chance with winner
towards rear, went 3rd from 5 out, weakened after 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 6 out, no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish
made all, clear before last, kept on well
always behind, tailed off before 3 out
NonRunner
Speredek can race off the same mark as when completing a hat-trick over fences in March and his only win over hurdles came here. The Gipper has also been chasing but fell at the first at Ludlow last time. Brave Eagle is defending an unbeaten record over timber but looks to be on a very high mark on his handicap debut while Unison, who was engaged at Huntingdon yesterday, is 11lb higher than when taking this last year. Cleni Wells looks to be coming back to form but Azzerti will need to do better than at Fontwell last month. PERSIAN DELIGHT (NAP) will enjoy conditions and wasn't winning out of turn at Wincanton in February. He is 7lb on his return to action but still has plenty of scope.
The Gipper (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Held up, fell 1st, at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Brave Eagle (IRE) 8-13fav (11-7) Tracked leader, challenged 3 out, led and mistake 2 out, clear before last, ridden out, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (4) gd in Mar beating Mister Serious (11-1) by 9l, 3 ran.
Azzerti (FR) 3-1 (11-9) Held up in 5th, outpaced after 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, last of 7, 15l behind Dashing Oscar (11-8) at Fontwell 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Persian Delight 11-4 (11-7) Tracked leader until 2nd, stayed handy, led before 2 out, idled in front, driven out, won at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Feb beating Driftwood Haze (11-9) by nk, 7 ran.
Speredek (FR) 10-11fav (10-8) Led and went good gallop, not fluent 3rd, pressed from 6th, mistake and headed narrowly 8th, led again after next, asserting when mistake 3 out, stayed on well, won at Ludlow 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Workbench (10-10) by 11l, 4 ran.
Cleni Wells (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway on inside after 2 out, chased leaders when not clear run approaching last, ridden and kept on same pace in 3rd flat, 3rd of 14, 4 3/4l behind Bobble Emerald (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Unison (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Led 1f, chased leaders, under pressure halfway, soon beaten, 6th of 13, 6 1/4l behind Alemaratalyoum (9-5) at Chepstow 1m hcp (5) sft in Sep.
