held up in rear, blundered 8th, pushed along in 5th when mistake 3 out, outpaced approaching next, kept on from last, went modest 3rd post
took keen hold, chased leader, lost 2nd before 3rd, ridden and weakened soon after 8th, tailed off
chased leading pair, went 2nd before 3rd, led approaching 7th, 3 lengths ahead and going strongly when left well clear last
held up in touch, headway chasing leaders 6th, went 3rd soon after 2 out, left in 6 lengths 2nd at the last, no chance with winner
chased leaders in 4th, went 2nd 3 out, ridden after next, 3 lengths down and held when fell last
mistakes, raced keenly, led and set steady pace, not fluent 3rd, headed approaching 7th, chased winner until mistake 3 out, beaten when mistake next, left in modest 3rd and blundered last, dropped to 4th post
in touch, headway approaching 7th, weakened under pressure after next, soon lost touch, tailed off
Nonrunner
Dai Rees has enjoyed more winners at this venue than any other over the last five years and his course winner Cawdor House Bert demands respect off topweight. Vif Argent is very interesting as David Pipe reverts the French import to hurdles for the first time since the five-year-old joined the Nicholshayne operation. He's rated 8lb lower over timber and must be taken seriously with his amateur partner claiming a further 7lb. Almost Gemini remains unexposed but CATCHING ON is precisely the sort that Jonjo O'Neill rattles up a sequence with and is taken to complete the three-timer despite having risen 18lb in the ratings for his last two successes.
Cawdor House Bert 16-1 (10-11) Raced wide, held up in rear, headway on wide outside and hit 4 out, chased clear leader next, closed approaching 2 olut, led before last, kept on strongly flat, driven out, won at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Mar beating Heavenstown (10-13) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Spirit River (FR) 8-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden before 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression when lost 3rd next, 4th of 5, 26l behind Arrayan (11-3) at Ludlow 2m clm hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
Vif Argent (FR) 25-1 (10-13) In touch on outside, blundered and rider lost irons 1st, recovered after next, lost place 4 out, weakening when brought down 3 next, in a race won by Streams Of Whiskey (10-10) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 19 ran.
Garde Fou (FR) 6-1 (11-2) Behind, reminder before 3rd, tailed off and pulled up before 6th, in a race won by Double Double (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) hvy in Apr, 11 ran.
Still Believing (IRE) 16-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, outpaced and struggling after 4 out, plugged on from 2 out, no threat, 5th of 8, 31l behind Cawdor House Bert (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft in Mar.
Catching On (IRE) 7-2fav (11-6) Made all, hit 7th, kept on well, won at Southwell 2m 4f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr beating Florida Quays (10-11) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Gap Of Dunloe (IRE) 7-1 (11-5) Raced wide, held up in rear but in touch, headway tracking leaders 4 out, went 2nd after 4 out, hit 3 out, ridden and closed next, challenged and every chance when hit last, chased winner until one pace into 3rd final 100 yards, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Viking Blond (11-1) at Ffos Las 3m sell (5) hvy in Apr.
Almost Gemini (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, headway chasing leaders approaching 3 out, went 2nd after 3 out until pushed along before 2 out, kept on same pace and no chance with leading duo, 3rd of 13, 25l behind Garde La Victoire (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
