jumped slightly left on occasions, tracked leader, led 3rd, awkward 7th, pulled up quickly before 3 out
mistake and stumbled 1st, tracked leader 3rd, left in clear lead before 3 out, clear soon after, easily
jumped left and keen, led until went left and headed 3rd, soon lost place, rallied on outside approaching 8th, mistake and lost place next, left poor 4th and hampered 11th, left 3rd before 3 out
chased leading pair on inside, mistake and unseated rider 11th
held up in last pair, not fluent 2nd, jumped slowly 6th, left in 3rd place 11th, left 2nd before 3 out, one pace after and no chance with winner
held up in rear, closer in 4th place 9th, badly hampered and unseated rider 11th
Ballycamp is the most experienced over fences and will act on the fast ground but BANDSMAN makes more appeal. Dan Skelton’s charge has won three times over hurdles including at Warwick last week and should go close racing off the same mark if taking to the fences. Royal Supremo is a bumper and hurdles winner related to a winning chaser while Alan King trained last year’s winner and Hidden Cargo is another to keep an eye on debuting over fences.
Royal Supremo (IRE) 7-2fav (11-7) Led until after 2nd, stayed prominent, ridden approaching 3 out, left 2nd when hampered 2 out, hung left flat, stayed on, not able to challenge winner, 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Whatthebutlersaw (11-1) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in May.
Bandsman 13-8fav (11-10) Prominent, not fluent 3 out, soon led, in command from 2 out, jumped right last, edged right and extended lead flat, ran on well, won at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gd in May beating Innocent Touch (11-9) by 8l, 13 ran.
Ballycamp (IRE) 13-2 (11-4) Led until before 4th, mistake 5 out, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Capitoul (11-5) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Hidden Cargo (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden before 3 out, weakened before 2 out, 8th of 20, dist behind Kansas City Chief (11-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Monar Rose 9-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake 5 out, effort after 3 out, weakened next, pulled up before last, at Towcester 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Apr.
Boy In A Bentley (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden 3 out, no impression, 7th of 13, 18 3/4l behind Rothman (10-11) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Apr.