led, headed 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last
in touch, hampered 6th, outpaced 2 out, soon ridden and weakened
keen early, in touch, disputing 2nd when fell 6th
behind, struggling 7th, tailed off 2 out
always prominent on inside, led 2 out, ridden, stayed on well flat
held up mid-division, headway to join leader 7th, outpaced between last 2, ridden and weakened approaching last
mid-division, headway and in touch 7th, went 2nd between last 2, effort and every chance last, ridden and kept on same pace flat
tracked leader, hampered 6th, driven and outpaced 2 out, weakened before last
held up, always behind, tailed off 2 out
mid-division, pushed along 6th, lost place next, soon behind, tailed off 2 out
With an obvious contender likely to win the first division, it is entirely plausible that River Music could take this for Howard Johnson, however KING FONTAINE sets a decent standard and is preferred. Malcolm Jefferson's gelding shaped with plenty of promise last season, with solid runs in all three of his hurdling starts. His third to Bensalem reads especially well and he can get his head in front for a deserved success. River Music cost 130,000 guineas as a three-year-old and is related to several winners over hurdles. He shaped with plenty of promise on his bumper debut and looks likely to relish this trip. Tutto Bene has not shaped too well in three runs but is expected to appreciate the longer trip today, Qbuster ran his best race to date over this trip last time and is of interest for a place, whilst Ceasar's Return was good enough to win a Newcastle bumper on debut and certainly wasn't disgraced at Aintree when upped in grade thereafter. Plenty of dead-wood in the race, and we are happy to stick with the experience of King Fontaine.
Also Jo 100-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, in touch when badly hampered and unseated rider 4th, in a race won by I'll Be Frank (10-11) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct, 13 ran.
Bob Will (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Led 2f, remained close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 15, 28l behind Last Of The Bunch (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f NH flat (6) gf in Oct.
Ceasar's Return 80-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened over 2f out, 11th of 19, 25l behind Sitting Tennant (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f nat hunt flat Grade 2 (1) gs in Apr.
Gagarin (FR) 16-1 (10-0) Held up, weakened from 3 out, 8th of 12, well behind Bob 'n' You (10-9) at Market Rasen 3m nov hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in May.
King Fontaine (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, ridden approaching 4 out, stayed on same pace, went 2nd after until 2 out until last, headed and no extra, 3rd of 15, 3l behind Sergeant Harper (11-3) at Chepstow 3m NH mdn hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Little Wizard (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, close up 7th until weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 8, well behind Moonwalking (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Qbuster (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, headway and in touch 2 out, ridden and effort flat, kept on same pace, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind I'll Be Frank (10-11) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
River Music (IRE) 7-2 (10-10) With leaders, stumbled after 3f, kept on same pace from over 3f out, 4th of 9, 11l behind Ceasar's Return (10-10) at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) gs in Mar.
Tutto Bene (IRE) 66-1 (10-7) Held up, weakened 3 out, 10th of 12, well behind Skylancer (11-5) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Warnell View 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, ridden 6f out, soon behind, 9th of 10, 39l behind Corky Dancer (11-0) at Kelso 2m NH flat (6) gd in Oct.
