in touch, slipped on bend after 5th, headway 11th, ridden 14th, weakened 3 out
not fluent, held up in rear, jumped slowly 8th, headway 16th, mistake next, chased leader 2 out, ridden to lead final 100 yards
with leader, led 5th, blundered badly 11th, clear 13th, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, blundered next
soon prominent, chased leader 4th until 11th, weakened 12th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, reminders and slipped on bend after 5th, headway 11th, ridden and weakened 4 out
held up towards rear, headway 8th, chased leader 11th, led soon after 3 out and ridden, headed final 100 yards
held up, lost place approaching 4th, fell 6th
led, headed 5th, weakened 8th
Castlemore is taken to land the spoils in the opener with Garnett and High Gear rated as the main dangers. The selection is a course and distance winner and he scored impressively last time when beating Young Thruster at Towcester. That was his first run after a long absence from the track so he should strip fitter today and with this in mind he gets the confident vote. Garnett won with a bit to spare last time out on his first run over fences so he is entitled to respect with ground conditions also in his favour. High Gear was disappointing over hurdles last time and he looks a little high in the weights at present so is passed over. King Eider made a bad mistake last time when a beaten favourite and he may fare better today, but Castlemore has plenty in his favour and he should prove tough to beat.
Castlemore (IRE) 9-1 (11-5) Chased leader, led 4th to 6th, led 8th, ridden from 3 out, headed when left in lead and clear last, won at Towcester 3m hts chs (6) gf in Apr beating Young Thruster (11-7) by 9l, 11 ran.
Garnett (IRE) 15-8jt-fav (11-7) Held up, improved 9th, went 3rd 12th, chased leader 3 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, idled in front, ridden near finish, readily, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hts chs (5) gd in Apr beating Crystal Dance (11-7) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Fin Bec (FR) 8-1 (12-0) Tracked leader, led 7th to 10th, chased leaders until weakened 3 out, 4th of 7, 28l behind Vital Spark (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hts chs (6) gf in Apr.
Find Me Another (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Led til unseated rider in race won by Tartar Sabre (11-0) at Higham 3m ptp gf in Apr, 5 ran.
High Gear (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Led, headed after 2nd, remained prominent, ridden 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 11, 17l behind Lawyer Des Ormeaux (11-11) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
King Eider 9-4fav (11-9) Held up behind, headway 4 out, disputing 2nd when hit 2 out, ridden approaching last, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Vital Spark (11-9) at Market Rasen 3m 1f hts chs (6) gf in Apr.
Rooster 7-4 (12-7) Trckd wnr; ev ch 2 out; outpcd app last; kpt on u.p flat, 2nd of 3, 1/2l behind Quality First (12-4) at Cottenham 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Wenceslas (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Always in rear, bumped 5th, tailed off when pulled up in race won by Mel In Blue (11-7) at Stratford 2m 7f hts chs (5) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
