tracked leaders, led 4th, mistake next, headed 9th, soon rallied, weakened approaching omitted 2 out
held up in rear, under pressure 11th, headway to chase leaders approaching omitted 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, lost place 9th, soon struggling in rear
chased leaders, lost place 3rd, soon in rear, mistake 4th, rallied 4 out, chased leaders next, stayed on into 2nd towards finish
keen in touch, weakened approaching 3 out
led until 4th, led again 9th, headed approaching omitted last, no extra closing stages
held up in touch, headway to chase leader 9th, led approaching omitted last, stayed on strongly (4 fences omitted)
NonRunner
Most are returning to action including last year’s winner Dandy Dan though the latter is 13lb higher this time. The 2017 Grand National hero One For Arthur also won this back in 2016 while Scottish National fourth Blue Flight finished well ahead of a below par VINTAGE CLOUDS back in April. But the latter made a winning reappearance at Haydock last season and only 4lb higher today, Sue Smith’s charge can go close in this. He’s preferred to stable companion Sharp Response while Amalfi Doug has the more recent form having landed a couple of lower grade chases but has a 12lb hike to contend with. Mysteree went close in the Eider at Newcastle back in February but Jonniesofa hasn’t raced since 2017.
Blue Flight (FR) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway after 5 out, chased leaders next, ridden after 3 out, stayed on to dispute 3rd flat, no impression, 4th of 23, 4 1/4l behind Takingrisks (10-1) at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
One For Arthur (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up behind, headway 3 after out, driven to chase leaders after next, ridden after last, kept on same, unable to get on terms, weakened closing stages, 6th of 40, 25 1/2l behind Tiger Roll (11-5) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Vintage Clouds (IRE) 5-1fav (11-1) Led or disputed lead, not fluent and lost place 5 out, soon outpaced, no impression from next, 6th of 23, 26 1/4l behind Takingrisks (10-1) at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Dandy Dan (IRE) 7-2fav (11-12) Prominent, hampered 10th, pushed along 14th, no impression with front pair when not fluent 4 out, ridden after next, went 2nd between last 2, kept on flat, never getting to winner, 2nd of 9, 3 3/4l behind Molly The Dolly (11-9) at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Sharp Response (IRE) 7-4fav (11-12) Held up in last pair, closer in 3rd place at 10th, led 14th, clear 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Catterick 3m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jan beating Little Bruce (11-0) by 5l, 6 ran.
Amalfi Doug (FR) 7-4fav (11-10) Made most, driven before 2 out, ridden after last, stayed on well flat, won at Perth 3m hcp (3) sft in Sep beating Soupy Soups (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Mysteree (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up mid-division, headway halfway, led 2 out, ridden after last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 16, nk behind Crosspark (10-13) at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp (2) gs in Feb.
Jonniesofa (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Led, not fluent 9th, headed before 4 out, soon led again, headed 3 out, very tired and clambered over 2 out and last, held by winner flat and allowed to trot home, 2nd of 3, 36l behind Lastbutnotleast (10-6) at Haydock 2m 3f (3) hvy in Dec.
