mid-division, headway 7th, ridden 3 out, weakened
towards rear, headway 9th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, badly hampered, no extra
held up, headway 9th, weakened 2 out, lame
mid-division, weakened 9th
mid-division, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, hard ridden 2 out, led flat
disputed lead until ridden and weakened 7th
tracked leaders, led 8th, headed approaching 3 out and fell
never dangerous
mid-division, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders 2 out, one pace flat
disputed lead to 7th, weakened 4 out
towards rear, stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders, led 3 out, all out when jumping right last, headed flat
mid-division, headway 7th, mistake 9th, kept on
held up, led after 7th, headed 8th, held 3 out, pulled up 2 out and dismounted
in touch, reminders after 2nd, ridden 9th, soon held
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
This looks like a minefield on paper but we will give the tentative vote to PRINCE BALTHASAR, while Captain Crackers and Billie Magern both warrant respect. The selection is a versatile sort and has been running over all codes in the past 12 months. He landed a handicap hurdle at Perth last month and only narrowly went down at the same venue last time out. He still looks potentially well treated and trainer Gordon Elliot has been in flying form of late so he could prove difficult to beat. Captain Crackers is only lightly raced and after running well in three novice hurdles he runs in his first handicap off a mark of 106. That looks a fairly lenient mark for a horse trained by Jonjo O'Neill and with Tony McCoy booked to ride he will have plenty of supporters therefore he should be noted. Billie Magern is still a maiden after 10 attempts but he has shown a decent level of form in defeat and is another that has definite place claims, but for the winner we return to Prince Balthasar who can be another winner for the Irish.
Shenanigan 14-1 (11-4) Chased clear leader, hit 5th, led approaching 3 out, headed when hit 3 out, weakened last, 4th of 12, 14l behind I'm The Decider (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Downing Street (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) In rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 24l behind I'm The Decider (11-7) at Ludlow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Down's Folly (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, jumped left 6th, mistake 8th, headway 10th, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 17l behind De Boitron (10-10) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Will The Till 8-1 (11-2) Held up and keen, headway 12th, ridden 4 out and weakened next, 5th of 11, 38l behind Pretty Star (11-0) at Ludlow 3m Am hcp ch 0-125 (3) sft in Jan.
Quattrocento (FR) 9-1 (10-11) Mid-division, mistake 4th, hampered 8th, soon dropped to rear, struggling 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Aleron (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in May, 12 ran.
Openide 8-1 (10-8) Chased leader approaching 2nd until after 10th, soon struggling, 5th of 13, 16l behind Giovanna (11-5) at Stratford 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Wild Tonto (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Chased leaders, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, 4th of 8, 27l behind La Pantera Rosa (10-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May.
Prince Balthasar (USA) 3-1fav (11-5) In touch, effort 3 out, led next, soon ridden, headed last, kept on same pace flat, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Kalellshan (11-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Right Option (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway approaching 7th, chased winner approaching next until after 9th, soon ridden, weakened approaching 3 out, 3rd of 13, 18l behind Baddam (10-13) at Worcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Cresswell Ruby (IRE) 8-1 (9-9) Chased leader, led 5th to 7th, led briefly 3 out, soon ridden and weakened, 6th of 10, well behind Amber Brook (10-10) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Go Free 33-1 (10-6) Held up, headway 3 out, soon ridden, weakened before next, 5th of 8, 20l behind Classic Swain (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in May.
Job One (FR) 16-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway after 7th, mistake 9th, ridden in third when jumped right 2 out, staying on same pace when went right and blundered last, unseated rider soon after, in a race won by Bob 'n' You (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May, 15 ran.
Snake Hips 11-4 (10-12) Held up in touch, ridden 7th, in 4th and weakenening when hit 3 out, 5th of 8, 42l behind Presque Perdre (11-12) at Cartmel 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Captain Crackers (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Mid-division, lost place 9th, headway approaching 3 out where mistake, went 2nd when jumped left 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Always Bold (11-0) at Uttoxeter 3m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Vintage Fabric (USA) 7-1 (11-7) Chased leader, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 19l behind Last Flight (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Superfly 3-1 (12-5) Prom til fell 10, in a race won by Overlut (12-5) at Pentreclwydau 3m ptp in May, 5 ran.
Billie Magern 9-2fav (11-6) Raced keenly in mid-division, ridden after 10th, hit 3 out, headway approaching 2 out, switched right and weakened approaching last, 5th of 15, 17l behind Simple Glory (10-3) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Mr Shambles 7-1 (11-0) Mid-division, hit 3rd, headway after 5th, every chance after 3 out, held next, weakened flat, 3rd of 9, 15l behind Benetwood (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gd.