chased leader to 5th, left 2nd 6th, led 4 out, pecked 3 out, driven out flat
led to 4 out, pushed along when mistake 3 out, weakened 2 out
behind when fell 2nd
held up, steady progress 13th, ridden after 3 out, weakened after 2 out
always behind, no chance from 4 out
held up in touch, lost place 6th, stayed on from 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, no impression on leading pair
took keen hold, soon in touch, joined leaders 5th, close 2nd when stumbled and unseated rider 6th
held up, steady progress 6th, ridden and weakened approaching 4 out
held up, headway on inside 12th, mistake 3 out, soon chasing winner, no impression
This looks a hot contest and the form should be worth following. No Comment was very highly tried in two runs over fences last season and Prime Venture is defending an unbeaten record here. After finishing sixth in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, VISION DES FLOS (NAP) was second in Grade 1 races at Aintree and Punchestown. He looks a high-class chasing prospect and should be forward enough to do himself justice here. The mare Jester Jet developed into a smart handicapper over hurdles last season over this sort of distance, as did Bags Groove who has already had a run over fences, finishing a close second at Uttoxeter. Tommy Rapper and Dream Berry are others worthy of attention along with Coole Cody, who has already won a point-to-point. Angels Antics was no slouch over hurdles and could also make a chaser.
Bags Groove (IRE) 5-2fav (11-0) Held up in touch, blundered 8th, led last, ridden run-in, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Verni (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m (3) gd in May.
Coole Cody (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Led, mistake 4 out, soon headed and dropped away, well behind when pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Dream Berry (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Held up, 15th before 4th, improved into 7th into straight, kept on same pace from before last, 6th of 24, 6l behind Meri Devie (10-13) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp Yielding - Soft in Apr.
No Comment 9-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, headway from 21st, shaken up before 3 out, weakened before next, 6th of 16, dist behind Rathvinden (11-6) at Cheltenham 4m (1) sft in Mar.
Prime Venture (IRE) 11-1 (11-6) Held up in rear, well beaten after 4 out, 10th of 17, 34 1/4l behind Monbeg Theatre (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
Tommy Rapper (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Mid-division on outside, took keen hold, headway before 5th, mistake 2 out, lost place before last, 9th of 23, 12 1/4l behind Blow By Blow (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Vision Des Flos (FR) 11-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, progress into 2nd after 4 out, disputed lead next, led 2 out, ridden and joined before last, headed after last, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Draconien (11-12) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Angels Antics 25-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, mistake 1st, lost place before 2 out, 6th of 9, 20 3/4l behind Dame De Compagnie (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 4f lst (1) gd in Apr.
Jester Jet 20-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway after 4 out, chased winner 2 out, closed flat, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 17, 1 1/4l behind Monbeg Theatre (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in May.
