tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, led 4 out, slight advantage when blundered last, ridden and headed final 120 yards, no extra in 3rd closing stages
held up in rear, good headway 6th, disputing close 2nd when blundered badly and stumbled on landing 4 out, soon recovered to chase leader, challenged from 3 out, driven to narrow lead final 120 yards, edged right no extra and headed close home
led, narrowly headed when blundered badly lost hind legs and dropped to 3rd 4 out, given chance to recover, rallied and stayed on approaching last, driven ahead again final 120 yards
took keen hold, chased winner until approaching 5th, stayed in touch in 5th, went 4th approaching 7th, one pace and no impression when went left 2 out
disputing 4th until dropped to rear after 4th, struggling and no chance after, tailed off
raced wide, took keen hold, tracked leading trio, headway to chase winner approaching 5th until next, mistake and weakened 7th, soon behind and no chance, tailed off
Wishfull Thinking has never won over 2m and was readily outpaced behind Sizing Europe in the Tingle Creek at Sandown earlier this month once headed. He'll make a bold bid to make all again here but may again find one or two have too much speed in the closing stages. FINIAN'S RAINBOW's only defeat over fences so far came when second to Wishfull Thinking's stablemate Captain Chris in the Arkle at The Festival in March, but there was no disgrace in that and he bounced back at Aintree the following month. Fitness is unlikely to be an issue on his reappearance and he should be too good for exposed handicappers Oiseau De Nuit and Takeroc.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, effort approaching 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace under pressure flat, no impression, 4th of 9, 6l behind Astracad (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd.
Wishfull Thinking 3-1 (11-7) Led and clear to 7th, headed after 10th, lost place approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 5th of 7, 39l behind Sizing Europe (11-7) at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs.
Finian's Rainbow (IRE) 10-11fav (11-4) Made all, not fluent 6th, hit next, joined 3 out, left clear when rival made bad mistake 2 out, soon driven, all out, won at Aintree 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Apr beating Ghizao (11-4) by 2l, 7 ran.
Takeroc (FR) 12-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear in touch, close up in 7th when fell 3 out, in a race won by Astracad (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs (2) gd, 9 ran.
Kinkeel (IRE) 10-1 (10-8) Tracked leaders, outpaced 6th, soon lost place, behind from 3 out, pulled up last, in a race won by Bohemian Rock (10-3) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs, 9 ran.
Oumeyade (FR) 11-4 (10-12) Tracked leader, left in lead 3 out, jumped right last, soon headed, kept on same pace, no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 4, 13l behind Puy D'Arnac (10-12) at Cartmel 2m 1f sell hdl (5) gd in May.
