led, headed 2 out, one pace
held up mid-division, reminders after 4 out, ridden approaching next, soon weakened
chased leaders, led 2 out, driven out
tracked leaders, lost place 5th
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, chased winner after last, one pace
held up towards rear, never dangerous
held up, tailed off when pulled up before last
held up, headway on outside approaching 3 out, every chance next, weakened last
tracked leader, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out
held up in touch, behind from 4th
SUNARRI showed enough at Aintree to suggest that he can win this, while Sumak and Bishops Heir look the most interesting of the remainder. The selection was runner-up to Sonowyouno in a maiden hurdle last month and the winner has since come out and defied a penalty to follow-up in novices' company, so the form looks very solid. He acted well enough with some cut that day, although like most of these, he has to prove he handles it this deep, but we will chance him. One who has proved his ability to go on the ground is Bishops Heir, who won a Newcastle bumper in January and was not far away next time in trying to defy a penalty. He clearly has a bit of ability and the market should be a good guide to his chance, although James Ewart's runners are yet to hit top form. Soft ground suited Sumak during his time in France, and he can surely improve on what we saw when he was thrashed by the selection in that same Aintree race, so don't rule him out of the frame. Bubbly Breeze is expected to show us more than on his debut here last month, while both the ground and a penalty will make it tricky for Perth winner Midnite Blews. Sunarri is taken to score.
Midnite Blews (IRE) 9-1 (10-8) Led, headed approaching last, one pace under pressure, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Veiled Applause (11-10) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Art Bank 40-1 (11-0) Held up in touch, led 4 out, headed next, soon weakened, 9th of 11, well behind Canadian Blaze (10-1) at Kelso 2m 6f NH mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Bishops Heir 5-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, led over 6f out, headed over 4f out, stayed on to lead just inside final furlong, headed towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1/2l behind Ceasar's Return (10-10) at Newcastle 2m NH flat (6) gs in Mar.
Bubbly Breeze (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, pushed along after 2nd, weakened from next, 7th of 10, 23l behind Nocturnal Knight (10-12) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Carters Rest 9-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place over 3f out, soon weakened, 15th of 17, 45l behind Solway Sam (11-2) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (4) gd in Oct.
Red Tanber (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, under pressure 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Going Wrong (10-12) at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) sft, 14 ran.
Santiago Atitlan 20-1 (10-7) Held up, effort 2f out, no impression, 8th of 10, 35l behind Nocturnal Knight (10-12) at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Saujana 100-1 (10-7) Tracked leaders, lost place after 4 out, soon outpaced, 8th and beaten when mistake last, 8th of 13, 22l behind Mcmurrough (10-12) at Kelso 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gs.
Sunarri (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway on outer approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, led last, ridden and headed towards finish, 2nd of 13, hd behind Sonowyouno (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Super Ally (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Soon steadied into mid-division, headway 9f out, outpaced 3f out unable to trouble leaders after, 6th of 13, 7l behind Bold Addition (10-9) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (4) gs in May.
Top It All 33-1 (11-2) Held up in rear, pushed along and detached over 5f out, stayed on from over 1f out, never nearer, 5th of 13, 5l behind Bold Addition (10-9) at Aintree 2m 1f NH flat (4) gs in May.
Bollin Fiona 200-1 (10-4) Always towards rear, 11th of 15, well behind Mighty Moon (11-4) at Newcastle 2m nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Jan.
Sumak (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, weakened after 3 out, 5th of 13, 28l behind Sonowyouno (11-0) at Aintree 2m mdn hdl (4) gs in Oct.