tracked leaders, effort to chase winner briefly 2 out, soon ridden and outpaced, no extra when lost 3rd approaching last
made virtually all, driven approaching last, stayed on to go clear flat (no time taken)
held up in touch, headway under pressure after 2 out, chased leading pair approaching last, kept on, no impression
raced keenly, tracked leaders, blundered 5th, outpaced when not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, weakened before last
tracked leaders, headway 2 out, soon chased winner, effort when edged left last, kept on same pace, held flat
held up behind in touch, outpaced 2 out, never dangerous
tracked winner, disputed lead after 2nd, driven and lost place 2 out, soon weakened
Twentynineblack was put over fences after winning at Bangor and Cartmel around this time last year but didn't really take to the larger obstacles and his efforts back over hurdles recently suggest he's lost his confidence. Heavenly Chorus, on the other hand, has shown her best form over fences but she's finished tailed off on her last couple of starts and it's not encouraging to see her dropped into this grade at this stage of her career. DEGAS ART has proved difficult to win with and suffered a heavy fall here last month. But the eight-year-old was travelling strongly at the time and should take all the beating at this level with a clear round.
Twentynineblack (FR) 20-1 (11-8) Mid-division on inside, lost place 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 12th of 13, well behind Ministerofinterior (10-9) at Hereford 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Degas Art (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, fell 3 out, in a race won by Andreo Bambaleo (10-11) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Heavenly Chorus 14-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, driven and headway 3 out, soon no impression, 6th of 9, well behind Duke of Malfi (10-8) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
Red Skipper (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Chased leading pair, hampered and left 2nd at 2nd, ridden 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 6th of 8, 34l behind Venetian Dove (11-7) at Fakenham 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Nov.
Waldo Winchester (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Behind, stayed on from 2 out, kept on flat, nearest finish, 6th of 11, 9l behind Hi Ho Silvia (10-5) at Wetherby 2m hcp hld 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
Even Melody 25-1 (10-0) Jumped slowly 1st, behind, mistake next, struggling 5th, never dangerous, tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Folk Tune (11-0) at Hexham 2m sell hdl (5) gf in Apr.
Chichina (USA) 100-1 (10-0) Chased leaders, weakened before 3 out, 10th of 13, well behind Bunclody (10-6) at Newcastle 2m mdn hdl (5) hvy in Feb.