led until after 5th, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
pressed leader, led after 5th, headed 2 out, soon ridden, one pace flat
held up, progress on inside approaching 3 out, pushed along and pulled out approaching 2 out, soon slightly outpaced, stayed on under pressure to take 2nd post
held up in touch, pushed along and every chance 2 out, soon ridden, one pace flat
held up, not fluent 4th, headway to lead 2 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, no extra flat, lost 2nd post
held up, short-lived effort 3 out, soon ridden and weakened
held up, headway after 5th, ridden to lead approaching last, driven and edged left flat, ran on well
prominent until weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
Le Prezien, Rock On Rocky and Ozzie The Oscar are all better known as chasers. The latter last ran over hurdles in this race 12 months ago when finishing 28 lengths behind The New One. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ former Champion Hurdle contender goes well fresh and is a pound lower than last year but he only beat Ch'tibello but half-a-length at Haydock in January and his old rival is 2lb better. Dan Skelton also runs MOHAAYED and jockey bookings suggest he’s the yard’s best hope of success. He improved last season and won the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March – he has a decent chance of overcoming a 7lb rise in the weights. Silver Streak bounced back to form when winning the Grade 3 Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May and has every chance on that form, despite being a pound out of the handicap.
The New One (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Led chasing group until after 5th, pushed along after 7th, struggling next, soon lost place and dropped away, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Ch'tibello (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Prominent, mistake 4th, weakened 2 out, 13th of 16, 19 1/4l behind Midnight Shadow (10-4) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Le Prezien (FR) 11-1 (11-7) Not always fluent, held up in 5th, last before 9th, pulled up before 10th, at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Mohaayed 33-1 (10-11) Mid-division on outside, closed after 3rd, close up 2 out, challenged last, led flat, kept on well, going away near finish, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar beating Remiluc (11-2) by 2 3/4l, 24 ran.
Ozzie The Oscar (IRE) 7-4fav (11-2) Jumped right at times, led 2nd, clear after 3 out until last, ran on gamely flat, won at Warwick 2m hcp (2) gd in May beating Kapstadt (10-0) by 2 3/4l, 5 ran.
Sizing Granite (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, closed after 5th, not much room bend after 6th, well beaten from 3 out, 12th of 16, 28 3/4l behind Silver Streak (10-2) at Haydock 2m hcp (1) gd in May.
Silver Streak (IRE) 13-2 (10-2) Mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway before 3 out, hampered and left 2nd 2 out, 3 lengths down last, stayed on well, led close home, won at Haydock 2m hcp (1) gd in May beating Chesterfield (11-0) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Rock On Rocky 25-1 (10-4) Held up in rear, blundered badly 10th, behind 12th, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
