chased leader, close 2nd and going well when fell 13th
towards rear, lost touch 9th, pulled up before 12th
mid-division, headway and chased leader 10th, no chance from 4 out
led and soon clear, jumped right from 2nd, headed 11th, weakened 13th, pulled up before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway and chased leader 12th, led 3 out, driven out from last
mid-division, lost touch 9th, soon behind
in touch, headway and led 11th, headed 3 out, ridden and mistake 2 out, still every chance when not fluent last, not quicken flat
held up towards rear, some headway when blundered 10th, lost touch after
in touch, ridden and lost place 12th, weakening when hampered badly 13th, pulled up before next
Temoin, Mark The Book and Hydromatic look the trio to closely consider here and Temoin gets the vote. Nicky Henderson will have him well prepared for this chasing debut and the seven-year-old was last seen taking his chance in the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He acts with cut in the ground and is rated miles better than this lot over hurdles, so if there is a remote chance he can transfer that ability to chasing then he should take this. Mark The Book looked a progressive sort over hurdles for Philip Hobbs before disappointing on his last start in the spring. A decent break and change of obstacles might enable him to return to that progessive profile and he is respected. Hydromatic is from an in-form yard and loves cut, but he's have to show us more before putting down the cash and In Accord, who is rated 129 after six previous chases, will give them a bit to do if he is straight enough first time. However his maiden tag over fences looks set to continue and this can fall to Temoin.
Barrys Ark (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out until 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 26l behind Miko de Beauchene (11-8) at Lingfield 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (D) hvy in Nov '05.
Hydromatic (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) In touch, outpaced 12th, no danger after, 3rd of 7, 22l behind Shrewd Investor (10-8) at Newcastle 3m nov chs (3) gs.
In Accord 40-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 10th, hit 11th, mistake 14th, weakened approaching 5 out, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Baron Windrush (10-9) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lst hcp chs (1) sft in Mar, 18 ran.
Littleton Aldor (IRE) 150-1 (10-11) Keen and not fluent, weakened 7th, well behind when fell in race won by Benetwood (11-0) at Warwick 2m beg chs (4) gs, 9 ran.
Mark The Book (IRE) 8-15fav (12-0) Prominent, led 6th, narrowly headed 3 out, lost 2nd and weakened between last 2, 3rd of 9, 28l behind Master Eddy (11-8) at Newbury 3m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Portland Bill (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, badly hampered 5th, weakened 4 out, 10th of 19, 37l behind Mendo (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Nov.
Snoopy Loopy (IRE) 7-2 (10-13) Mid-division, hit 3rd, driven and outpaced 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 13, 45l behind Sunday City (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Nov.
Temoin 25-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, blundered 8th, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Inglis Drever (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
The Real Deal (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Went right 8th, soon tailed off and pulled up at the 11th in race won by Albertas Run (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m nov chs (2) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Devon Blue (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Mid-division, ridden, struggling from 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Or Sing About (11-5) at Worcester 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gd in Jun, 15 ran.
