held up towards rear, headway 17th, chased winner approaching 3 out until 2 out, weakened flat
led until approaching 6, led 10th to 16th, with leader when went badly lame on landing 17th, pulled up soon after
always prominent, raced keenly, not fluent 4th, left 2nd after 17th, led after next, hung left from after 2 out, mistake last, stayed on flat
with leader, led approaching 6 until 10th, led 16th until after 18th, weakened approaching last
took keen hold, always last, blundered 12th, lost touch after 18th, blundered badly 3 out, tailed off
in touch, not fluent 9th, pushed along and lost place after 15th, weakened 18th,
held up, ridden after 18th, headway approaching 4 out, chased winner 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat
Withdrawn
Nonrunner
KEEPITSECRET, Cava Bien and I Hear Thunder all have some appeal here, and don't tell anyone, but our preference is for Jonjo O'Neill's gelding. The yard's bang in form, and Keepitsecret, although racing under a seven pounds penalty for winning at Newton Abbott last week can handle the trip and ground. It's wise to turn him out quickly before he goes up for that success, and he's still got almost a stone in hand on top weight Otantique. Last week's run was his first for four months, and he showed last summer he's more than capable of getting this distance when winning similar contests at Southwell and Towcester. Cava Bien failed to land a four-timer last time out when his jumping wasn't as fluent as it should be. Again, trip and going are in his favour; he'd be joint top weight but for the highly rated Bernie Wharfe taking off five pounds, who's here for this one scheduled ride. I Hear Thunder has only been out of the first three twice in his last nine runs, but he's not won for two and a half years when he triumphed at Aintree in the Grand Sefton Chase. He's running well enough though to suggest that if everything falls right for him, he could be triumphant again. Plenty have chances, but our support goes to Keepitsecret.
Otantique (FR) 15-2 (11-9) Badly hampered 5th, always in rear, blundered 16th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Triggernometry (10-0) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Cava Bien 10-3fav (10-11) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway 11th, hit 13th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 12, 44l behind Roulez Cool (11-7) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Prestbury Knight 6-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, bumped 5th, hit next, mistake 12th, lost touch after next, blundered 3 out, 8th of 9, 47l behind Fier Normand (11-7) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, went 2nd 8th, led 10th, hard ridden and kept on well flat until caught last strides, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Sandymac (10-1) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Rosses Point (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Took keen hold, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th, led before when fell 3 out, in a race won by Senor Shane (11-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr, 5 ran.
Potts of Magic 6-1 (10-12) Hit 1st, mid-division, struggling 14th, never a danger, 5th of 12, 21l behind Freeline Fury (10-3) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Super Judge (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, some headway 3 out, never on terms, 4th of 11, 18l behind Illogical Hope (9-12) at Hereford 3m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Down's Folly (IRE) 15-2 (11-3) Mid-division, not fluent 3rd, jumped left 6th, mistake 8th, headway 10th, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last, 5th of 10, 17l behind De Boitron (10-10) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Keepitsecret (IRE) 15-8fav (11-8) Held up, headway 9th, jumped well to lead 4 out, kept on well, comfortably, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf beating Gleann An Sagart (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 9 ran.
