held up mid-division, lost place 2nd, jumped slow 6th, behind when mistake 7th, pulled up before 10th
held up towards rear, headway 5 out, led approaching last, edged right, just held on
held up in touch, led 8th, blundered and headed 4 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, led 4 out, headed next, every chance last, hard ridden and stayed on under pressure, just held close home
chased leader, led 5th, headed 8th, weakened 4 out, jumped badly right last when very tired
held up mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 5 out, led 3 out, headed approaching last, soon weakened
held up, headway 10th, weakened 5 out, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, lost place approaching 9th, tailed off
led to 5th, pushed along approaching 9th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up, weakened approaching 12th, pulled up before 4 out
held up, headway after 5 out, no impression
held up towards rear, weakened approaching 3 out, behind when blundered last
always towards rear, pulled up before 3 out
Opera Mundi has to be respected on his reappearance but most of the runners form the yard of Paul Nicholls have tended to need their first run and a safer bet may be Lothian Falcon, who gets the vote over Cloudy Lane. The last mentioned has not been seen since disappointing in the Irish National but Don McCain has his string in fair form so lack of a recent run need not be of concern. King Harald was good value for his win at Kelso last time but has been punished by the handicapper for that success and this looks tougher off his new mark. High Chimes is less exposed than most of these after just four starts and has to be considered along with Charlie Swan's Mister Month, who has shown a consistent level of form and has a nice racing weight. The vote though goes to Lothian Falcon who was a good winner over hurdles at Wetherby on his return and can race off just a 1lb higher mark today back over fences.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 25-1 (11-6) Led, mistake 14th, headed next, not fluent 3 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 16, 19l behind Heltornic (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) hvy in Feb.
Opera Mundi (FR) 7-2fav (10-7) Mid-division, losing place when hit 8th, never on terms after, 19th of 23, 37l behind Idole First (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Limerick Boy (GER) 12-1 (11-5) Towards rear, weakened 10th, no chance when pulled up at the 12th in race won by Reveillez (11-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 18 ran.
Heez A Dreamer (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, reminders after 11th, one pace approaching 2 out, soon no impression on leaders, 5th of 23, 10l behind Joes Edge (10-6) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
Nadover (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Tracking leader when fell at the 12th in race won by Cloudy Lane (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Cloudy Lane 11-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, 7th halfway, 5th 5 out, weakened after next, badly hampered and brought down in race won by Butler's Cabin (10-4) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f hcp chs gd in Apr, 29 ran.
Alright Now M'Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Always behind, tailed off 15th, pulled up before 3 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Cloudy Lane (10-11) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
St Matthew (USA) 50-1 (11-0) Pressed leader until approaching 9th, soon struggling, 4th of 6, 28l behind Black Jack Ketchum (11-8) at Wetherby 3m 1f hdl Grd 2 (1) gf.
King Harald (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Disputed lead, left in lead 13th, headed 3 out, soon ridden, kept on gamely to lead again flat, won at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd beating Hold The Bid (10-3) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
Yaboya (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Behind, mistake 6th, struggling 10th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Oedipe (10-2) at Kempton 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Dec, 11 ran.
High Chimes (IRE) 15-8jt-fav (11-4) Tracked leader, hit 10th, led next, left clear 3 out, stumbled last, won at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) hvy in Mar beating Ballyjohnboy Lord (11-4) by a distance, 4 ran.
Lothian Falcon 9-2 (11-5) Held up in rear, mistake 6th, headway after 8th, ridden before 2 out, switched left before last, led flat, stayed on well, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf beating Capitalise (10-11) by 3l, 9 ran.
Mister Month (IRE) 4-1fav (9-10) Tracked leaders, 6th 5 out, 4th 3 out, 3rd next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 15, 11l behind Baily Breeze (10-9) at Galway 2m 6f hcp chs hvy in Oct.
