tracked leader, mistake and unseated rider 5 out
in touch, left 2nd 5 out until ridden 2 out, kept on same pace
close up in rear when hampered bumped and unseated rider 5 out
close up, hampered 5 out and soon outpaced, ridden and headway to chase clear leader when left in lead 2 out, ridden and ran on
close up, mistake 6th, ridden 4 out, left 3rd 2 out, plugged on
not fluent, tracked leaders until 9th, close up when mistake and fell 5 out
led, mistake 10th, clear from 4 out, unseated rider 2 out
Buck Mulligan has only a single success to his name since late 2012 and does find winning really difficult but Evan Williams has his string in fine fettle at present and it would not surprise if the 10-year-old took to this unique circuit. Unknown Legend is already a dual course winner and goes on the short-list as he arrives off the back of a bloodless 3m Southwell success and still looks fairly treated. However, we'll take a chance on the youngster ABRICOT DE L'OASIS. He failed to complete his hat-trick at Aintree last time when not helped by a blunder two out but that was a better race and he'd impressed in both previous wins. He's still got plenty of scope for improvement and can return to winning ways.
Benefit Cut (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, mistake 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 6th of 10, 18l behind Bear's Affair (11-5) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd.
Buck Mulligan 10-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 1st, headway before 4 out, no impression on front pair before last, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 11l behind Carrigmorna King (11-9) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd.
Freckle Face 8-1 (11-6) Held up, blundered badly and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by Madame De Guise (10-9) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 6 ran.
Benevolent (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Towards rear, last pair and struggling 5 out, never a factor, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Kilbree Kid (11-4) at Ludlow 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Passato (GER) 20-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, not fluent 7th (water), weakened before 3 out, last of 6, 48l behind Carrigmorna King (11-9) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd.
Abricot De L'Oasis (FR) 11-8fav (11-5) Prominent, hit 2nd, mistake 11th, hit 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after next, 4th of 8, 14l behind Lucky Landing (11-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Unknown Legend (IRE) 20-1 (11-11) Made all, clear before last, kept on well, won at Southwell 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd beating Ballythomas (11-9) by 10l, 12 ran.
