held up mid-division, in rear before halfway, outpaced 4 out, weakened before 2 out
tracked leader, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened
led, headed before 3 out, weakened before last
held up mid-division, headway before 5 out, led before 3 out, ridden before last, headed run-in, no extra
mid-division, lost place before 4 out, pulled up after 4 out
mid-division, headway before 3 out, weakened run-in
held up in touch, headway before 3 out, weakened from 2 out
towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, never dangerous
always towards rear, weakened from 3 out
in rear, headway before 3 out, soon weakened quickly
mid-division, weakened before 2 out
held up mid-division on outer, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along before 3 out, ridden before last, soon weakened
towards rear, headway before 3 out, I 4th from last, kept on and every chance run-in, held towards finish
towards rear, pushed along before 3 out, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, kept on well to lead run-in, held on towards finish
tracked leader, challenged 3 out, every chance 2 out, kept on and no extra towards finish
held up mid-division, headway and mistake 3 out, ridden and weakened before next
Valhalla made most dropping back in distance at Taunton but may struggle to repeat the trick here as Our Thomas, who will enjoy the going, is likely to give him a battle for the lead. Kenneth Slack has done well with Tonto's Spirit and Caius Marcius produced a fine turn off foot to pick off Our Thomas last time at Wetherby with William Of Orange back in fourth and is only a pound worse off with the runner-up. Stamp Your Feet has been pretty consistent and is lurking near the foot of the weights along with the in-form Limited Reserve. Several of the others arrive in good form, including Unison and St Saviour, but MIDNIGHT MAESTRO (NAP) looks the one to be on. He’s had just the four runs over hurdles with his only failure coming behind last week’s Aintree Grade 1 winner Pingshou at Cheltenham in December. He was always travelling like a winner when striding clear of Brotherly Company at Stratford last month and it’s difficult seeing that one reversing the form, despite being 5lb better off.
Valhalla (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Chased leader, led 2nd, made rest, ridden and stayed on strongly run-in, won at Taunton 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Amour de Nuit (11-2) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Unison (IRE) 11-8fav (11-12) Raced wide, led until after 2nd, led next, ridden and headed after 3 out, led again before next, edged right and slowed into last, eased towards finish, won at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Mar beating Oscar Sunset (11-13) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Tonto's Spirit 4-7fav (11-13) Raced freely, led, clear after 3rd, not fluent and pitched badly 2 out, reduced lead and not fluent last, never pressed, ridden out, won at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Feb beating Bowdler's Magic (11-4) by 5l, 8 ran.
St Saviour 14-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 2 out, ridden between last 2, ridden to lead and hung left before the last, 1 length ahead when left clear last, won at Stratford 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Star Foot (10-11) by 8l, 7 ran.
Midnight Maestro 6-4fav (11-2) Tracked clear leader, headway to lead on long run to last (3f out), soon pressed, ridden and ran on, won at Stratford 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar beating Brotherly Company (11-4) by 4l, 9 ran.
Floresco (GER) 5-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, left 2nd 3rd, ridden and dropped to last when mistake 2 out, no extra, 4th of 5, 28 1/2l behind Paddys Runner (11-4) at Wincanton 1m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Caius Marcius (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Behind, headway 5 out, ridden before last to chase leader, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Our Thomas (11-5) by 1l, 12 ran.
Brotherly Company (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Close up, headway to press winner on long run to last, 4 lengths down and held when not fluent last, kept on, 2nd of 9, 4l behind Midnight Maestro (11-2) at Stratford 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Paddys Runner 9-1 (11-2) Led until after 2nf, led again after 4 out, headed after next, left in 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 19l behind Amour de Nuit (10-7) at Taunton 2m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Golden Birthday (FR) 8-1 (10-11) Held up in last pair, good headway on outside chasing leaders on long run before 3 out, went 2nd before 3 out, ridden and no impression when edged left before next, lost 2nd between last 2, one pace, 3rd of 8, 7 3/4l behind Remiluc (11-8) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Eyes Of A Tiger (IRE) 9-2 (11-0) Led until 2 out, no extra from last, 5th of 10, 11 1/2l behind Project Bluebook (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
Our Thomas (IRE) 6-4fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led before 2 out, ridden before last, headed run-in, kept on, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind The Character (11-2) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Vivas (FR) 10-3fav (11-11) Prominent, ridden 2 out, weakened next, 6th of 10, 32 1/2l behind Kauto Riko (10-5) at Market Rasen 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Dec.
Limited Reserve (IRE) 5-2fav (10-1) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, led 2 out, kept on strongly, won at Ffos Las 2m hcp (3) sft in Dec beating Bennys King (11-1) by 3l, 8 ran.
Stamp Your Feet (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Mid-division, closed from 3rd, challenged 3 out, soon edged left and bumped into rival, every chance next, 3rd and beaten last, no extra flat, 3rd of 12, 19l behind I'm A Game Changer (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
William Of Orange 8-1 (11-6) Close up, ridden before last, no extra after last, 4th of 12, 12 1/2l behind Caius Marcius (11-11) at Wetherby 2m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Weapon Of Choice (IRE) 28-1 (10-0) In touch, headway before 3 out, one pace from next, 6th of 10, 13 1/2l behind Project Bluebook (10-7) at Musselburgh 2m hcp (3) gd in Jan.
