in touch, blundered 4th, losing touch when jumped left 9th and pulled up
always behind
chaseed leader to 4 out, rallied well flat to press for 2nd near finish, never any chance wth easy winner
never going and soon struggling in rear, tailed off 6th, pulled up after 8th
held up, steady headway to go prominent from 10th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden and readily outpaced by winner after 3 out, kept on well to hold 2nd near finish
led to 7th, chased winner to 4 out, weakened soon after
chased leaders until weakened 12th
tracked leaders in 3rd, led 7th, hit 4 out, came readily clear after 3 out, eased flat
in touch, stayed on under pressure from 2 out, never going pace to trouble leaders
Risk Accessor gets the confident vote in the finale with Bel Ombre and Gielgud rating the main dangers. The selection was eleventh behind Dumbrody Millar at Aintree last time out, that form looks rock solid and with the drop in trip and return to regulation fences also looking to be in his favour he is hard to oppose. Bel Ombre rates the main danger on his latest second behind Power Glory. However that form has since been let down. Gielgud is another that could go well on his latest fifth behind Mel In Blue, he looks sure to be suited by this shorter trip and could go well at a price but he would not want any rain. Of the remainder Caveman could go well if given an easy lead but that looks unlikely and for the winner we return to Risk Accessor who looks to have plenty in hand.
Bel Ombre (FR) 7-1 (12-7) Went 3rd 15; slt late prog; nd, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Power Glory (11-7) at Fakenham (point) 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Caveman 2-1fav (12-7) Led 7 til hdd aft 3 out; no ex, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Power Glory (11-7) at Fakenham (point) 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Gielgud 25-1 (11-8) In touch, mistake 11th, close up when mistake and weakened 5 out, 5th of 14, 29l behind Mel In Blue (11-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hts chs (5) gd in Apr.
Esprit De Cotte (FR) 3-1 (12-4) 4th of 10, 27l behind The Major (12-0) at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gf in May '05.
Jewel Song 25-1 (11-10) Held up, not fluent 11th or 12th, headway from 16th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching 3 out, 5th of 10, 14l behind Beauchamp Oracle (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gd.
Little Farmer 8-1 (12-0) (cp) led to 11; outpcd 14; went 2nd 2 out; no ch w wnr, 2nd of 5, 5l behind Quarrymount (12-0) at Godstone 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Make Haste Slowly 9-1 (11-0) Outpcd aft 12; nrly, 6th of 11, 19l behind Va Vavoom (11-0) at Fakenham (point) 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Risk Accessor (IRE) 25-1 (10-0) Towards rear, outpaced when hampered 10th (Becher's), 11th of 29, 26l behind Dunbrody Millar (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.