in rear, headway over 4f out, led on bit over 1f out, kept on well towards finish
tracked leader, led over 8f out, headed over 5f out, soon weakened, tailed off
tracked leaders in 3rd, led over 5f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, no extra
held up mid-division, headway over 4f out, weakened over 2f out
held up towards rear, ridden over 3f out, headway over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong
in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
tracked leaders in 4th, weakened 3f out
held up towards rear, headway 3f out, kept on to take 2nd place inside final furlong
held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
towards rear, headway over 3f out, kept on well towards finish
led, headed over 8f out, quickly weakened over 6f out, tailed off
This is a much weaker race than the first division and PEPPAY LE PUGH won't need to be a world-beater to make a winning start. His sire has produced plenty of winners over jumps as well as on the Flat. Brave Richard may not have beaten much at Huntingdon last month and has a penalty to contend with but Washed Ashore will be interesting when having a set of hurdles to jump while Druids Lodge is a half-brother to Flat winner Balmoral Castle. Bonvilston Boy may be best of the rest.
Brave Richard (IRE) 25-1 (10-10) Keen early, held up in last pair, headway on outside halfway, challenged going well over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven inside final furlong, ridden out towards finish, won at Huntingdon 2m NH flat (6) gs in Apr beating Abbreviate (10-5) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Nataraja 25-1 (12-0) Chsd ldrs til wknd qckly & pu aft 12, in a race won by Treacyswestcounty (12-0) at Pytchley 3m ptp gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Alf 'n' Dor (IRE) Flemensfirth gelding out of Greenflag Princess.
Bonvilston Boy Martaline gelding out of Lisa Du Chenet.
Byron Flyer Byron gelding out of Nursling.
Druids Lodge Tiger Hill gelding out of Mimiteh.
King Simba (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Held up behind in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, never reached leaders, 6th of 10, 7l behind Younevercall (10-7) at Southwell 2m cond NH flat (6) gd in Apr.
Peppay Le Pugh (IRE) Arakan gelding out of Pinaflore.
Quieto Sol (FR) Loup Solitaire gelding out of First Wonder.
Washed Ashore (IRE) Presenting gelding out of Give It Time.
Gifted Rose 100-1 (10-3) Towards rear and pushed along, reminders over 6f out, never dangerous, 8th of 9, 39l behind Muthabir (11-3) at Southwell 2m NH flat (6) gf in Mar.