held up in rear, in touch, hampered by faller and unseated rider 15th
led early, headed and pressed leader from 1st, dropped to narrow 3rd when left in 2nd at 15th, pushed along after 3 out, ridden and no impression after 2 out
handy, led 1st, bad mistake and fell 15th
tracked front pair, mistake 2nd, headway into 2nd before 15th where left in lead, in command after 2 out, pushed out run-in, easily
NonRunner
Hermann Clermont has strong claims on the best of his 2022 chase form and didn't shape too badly last time, travelling well for a long way before tiring, but he now tackles a significantly longer trip. Preference is for SLIEVEGAR (NAP), who boasts a 50 per cent strike-rate in the pointing sphere and ran a fine race when runner-up at Cheltenham earlier this month. Shanroe Street and Steely Addition came home first and third at Perth recently but there was only half-a-length between them at the line and the latter is much better off at the weights now.
Hermann Clermont (FR) 11-2 (12-6) Held up in rear, headway into 2nd 12th, kept on but well held by easy winner from 2 out, 2nd of 5, 12l behind Time Leader (12-6) at Kelso 2m 6f (4) gs in May.
Shanroe Street (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Led until 10th, lost 2nd 12th, rallied well when rider dropped rein and led again post, won at Perth 3m (5) gd in May beating So Be It (11-12) by shd, 4 ran.
Cooking Fat 8-1 (12-10) (cp) chsd ldrs; lft 2nd 3 out; wknd app nxt, 3rd of 10, 20 3/4l behind Tanora (11-10) at Hexham 3m gd in May.
Slievegar 20-1 (11-12) Midfield, headway to join leader 4 out, led 3 out, ridden 2 out, headed before last, kept on, 2nd of 13, 17l behind Quintin's Man (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (4) gd in May.
Steely Addition (IRE) 4-5fav (12-6) Close 3rd on inside, not fluent 11th (water) went 2nd 12th, ridden and held when mistake 2 out, ridden and no impression run-in, dropped to 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 1/2l behind Shanroe Street (11-12) at Perth 3m (5) gd in May.
