mid-division, headway 15th, soon chasing leaders, led 2nd last, hit last, held on under pressure
tracked leaders, ridden to challenge after 3 out, weakened quickly before next
in rear when fell 15th
prominent, blundered and lost place 14th, behind when mistake 3 out
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, slipped up on final bend
held up mid-division, not fluent 11th, headway 3 out, weakened before next
led, ridden and headed 2 out, rallied approaching last, no extra near finish
held up towards rear, headway after 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened before last
tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, mistake next, soon beaten
Nonrunner
A tough race to call here for punters with very little between many of the leading lights but the principals look to be Otantique, New Time and Professor Hegarty and the tentative vote is given to Otantique. The selection won with plenty in hand last time out when defeating Classic Clover. He enters handicaps off what looks a fair mark and under conditions that suit he is taken to win again. New Time rates the main danger as he beat Inmate last time. However this looks more competitive and he will need to improve again to score. Professor Hegarty is another last time out winner but he is exposed and he now looks in the handicappers grip. Mandingo Chief was a fair second behind Manbow last time and is another with place claims but he is often let down by his jumping and at likely odds he is taken on. Of the remainder Vivid Imagination is sure to run his race but he is hard to win with and for the winner we return to the unexposed Otantique.
Otantique (FR) 11-4 (11-5) Held up, hit 6th, smooth headway 11th, led 3 out, easily, won at Exeter 2m 7f beg chs (4) gf beating Classic Clover (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Cruising River (IRE) 7-1 (11-4) Led 3rd to 4th, led 7th until after 9th, weakened after 12th, tailed off, 7th of 9, well behind Out The Black (11-8) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Espoir Du Bocage (FR) 28-1 (11-2) Led until after 6th, not fluent 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out, 6th of 9, 15l behind Grecian Groom (11-2) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
Mandingo Chief (IRE) 5-2fav (10-1) Chased leaders, led 5 out, not fluent 2 out, headed approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 5l behind Manbow (10-1) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf.
Professor Hegarty (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 13th, chased leader 4 out, not clear run on bend after 2 out, hung right and led soon after last, ridden out, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Olay Olay (10-8) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Vivid Imagination (IRE) 15-2 (10-12) Led, soon clear, jumped slowly 3rd, hit 5 out, headed 3 out, fading when mistake 2 out, 3rd of 6, 15l behind Petit Lord (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (4) gd.
Own Line 12-1 (11-9) Always prominent, mistake 11th, headed 13th, led again after 3 out, headed last, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Newton Bridge (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf.
L'Oiseau (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Held up last, headway 8th, chased leader 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, comfortably, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf beating Lusaka De Pembo (11-6) by 7l, 12 ran.
New Time (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Chased leader, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, hard ridden last, held on gamely under pressure flat, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf beating Inmate (10-0) by 3/4l, 12 ran.
Gastornis 9-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, headway 14th, mistake 3 out, blundered last, soon hung right, kept on under strong pressure, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Blaze Ahead (10-12) at Huntingdon 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs in May.
