whipped round start and lost 25 lengths, in rear, closer order before 4th, went moderate 5th at 6th, struggling 10th, tailed off
chased leader until went right and lost 2nd at 7th, jumped right after, chased clear leading pair until 10th, soon struggling and behind, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
not fluent, tracked leading pair, mistake 3rd, tracked leader 7th, ridden when went right and stumbled 2 out, led last, drew clear flat
jumped right, led, ridden before 2 out, headed last, stayed on same pace flat
chased clear leading trio, reminders 8th, dropped to last and struggling after 9th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 4 out
held up in 5th, slow at 6th, headway to poor 3rd at 10th, tailed off
A three-times hurdles winner, Helium has been a big disappointment over fences so far, running on when it was all too late over 2m2f here at the start of the month. An argument could be made that this longer trip will suit but DOESLESSTHANME will have had plenty of schooling since joining Paul Nicholls' stable and is fancied to make a winning start to his chase career. Only Witness has won twice over hurdles recently and has also been successful between the flags but his best form is over further.
Ball Hopper (IRE) 5-4 (12-0) (tt) led aft 8; hdd 10; ur 15, in a race won by Fredwal (12-0) at Stafford Cross 3m ptp gf in May, 2 ran.
Cloudy Sunset 80-1 (11-3) Tended to jump right, took keen hold, tracked leading pair, lost 3rd 10th, outpaced next, last and struggling when blundered 3 out, pulled up before next, in a race won by Balzaccio (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd, 4 ran.
Doeslessthanme (IRE) 3-1fav (11-6) Tracked leaders in 4th, led approaching 2 out, ridden run-in, held on well towards finish, won at Kelso 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Nov beating Raysrock (10-11) by 1l, 12 ran.
Helium (FR) 85-40 (11-3) Chased leaders, lost place after 7th, headway 2 out, never on terms, 4th of 5, 5l behind Vertige Dore (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f beg chs (4) gd.
Johnny Mullen (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Soon well in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Fountains Flypast (11-3) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Mar, 10 ran.
Only Witness (IRE) 2-1fav (10-11) In touch, dropped to rear 9th, outpaced between 3 out and 2 out, ridden and headway approacing last, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Plumpton 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gf beating Mzuri Bay (11-4) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
