prominent, led 1st, headed and pressed leader from 2nd, bumped jumping 3rd, led 3 out, soon faced challenge, pushed along and forged on before last, good jump final flight and stayed on well, driven out
mid-division, not fluent at times, pushed along 2 out, weakened home turn and tailed off
mid-division, not fluent 4th, went 4th after 8th, pressed leader after 2 out, pushed along before last and no extra
mid-division, dropped to rear after 6th, slow jump next and pulled up
chased leaders, hampered 1st, ridden after 2 out, plugged on same pace
in rear, raced keenly, headway into 3rd after 3 out, pushed along after 2 out, weakening when not fluent last
handy, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, kept on and took 2nd approaching last, no impression on winner
towards rear, well behind from after 2 out, soon pulled up
led, slow jump 1st and headed, pushed along to lead again next, jumped right 3rd, pushed along and headed 3 out, soon struggling, pulled up after 2 out
Grand Du Nord has placed in handicap company the last twice but is fully exposed. Gege Ville has made the frame in two of his three hurdles starts, however, so goes on the shortlist though CHANCE THE ROBIN (NAP) is preferred. John McConnell saddled last year’s winner and his Robin Des Champs gelding has already won a bumper here and placed in a point earlier in his career. Swallows Song is on the verge of becoming disappointing but can’t be ignored.
Chance The Robin (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Led, pushed along and headed 2f out, ridden and kept on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 4 1/4l behind Boldog (11-2) at Hexham 2m (5) sft in Apr.
Gege Ville (FR) 11-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders, hit 2nd, not fluent 4th, pushed along 2 out, ran on one pace, 3rd of 6, 6 3/4l behind Cold Sobar (11-7) at Newcastle 2m 4f (4) hvy in Apr.
Grand Du Nord (FR) 10-1 (11-10) Raced wide, held up towards rear, steady headway out wide before 3 out, went 2nd before 2 out, challenged 2 out, led between last two, soon ridden, strongly pressed last, headed close home, 2nd of 14, nk behind Dillarchie (11-4) at Wetherby 3m hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Intofocus 16-1 (12-0) (tt) lost tch 12; pu nxt, at Hornby Castle 3m mdn gs in Apr.
Now Go Soldier Go (IRE) 25-1 (11-4) Mid-division, mistake 1st, pushed along in 9th 2 out, no impression, 7th of 19, 21 3/4l behind Top Speed (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 1f mdn Yielding in May.
Strike Of Lighting (IRE) 10-1 (10-2) Behind, mistake 1st, slow 3rd, some headway from 2 out, hung right last, no impression, 8th of 11, 14 1/2l behind Burrows Hall (10-10) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Swallows Song 9-2 (11-0) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 7th, headway on outside 9th, outpaced and no impression from 3 out, 5th of 8, 8 1/2l behind Imperial Merlin (11-11) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Third Avenue (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Midfield, pushed along after 5th, gradually weakened, 5th of 8, dist behind Forcing Bull (11-5) at Sedgefield 2m 1f (4) sft in Mar.
Parelli Power 300-1 (11-0) In rear, well beaten 3 out, 11th of 12, dist behind Poetic Music (11-12) at Perth 2m (4) gs in Apr.
Court Case (IRE) 22-1 (11-6) Chased winner until over 2f out, well held 3rd over 1f out, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Clovis Island (11-6) at Hexham 2m mdn (5) hvy in Mar.
