mid-division, outpaced 3 out (usual 4 out), soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division when fell 1st
tracked leader to 9th, in touch, ridden after 2 out, stayed on to chase front pair flat, no impression
in touch, tracked leader 9th, pushed along in 4th after 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden to lead briefly 2 out, switched inside and rallied flat, led towards finish, kept on
tracked leaders to 11th, soon behind, tailed off
mid-division on outer, headway 12th, challenged 3 out (usual 4 out), soon led, headed briefly 2 out, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish
led headed after 3 out (usual 4 out), soon weakened, tailed off
mid-division on inside, chased leaders 3 out (usual 4 out), ridden after 2 out, stayed on to dispute 3rd flat, no impression
held up towards rear, struggling 11th, tailed off
hampered 1st, held up, always behind, tailed off
Desert Joe is high enough in the weights for his reappearance. Viva Steve disappointed once too often last season while Benevolent would need another career-best effort to score off this mark. Set List still has plenty of scope, however, and wasn't disgraced at Chepstow after winning at Worcester and Big Sound is starting to look well handicapped. Cloudy Bob goes well around here and will strip fitter for his third at Worcester. AUVERGNAT is surely better than he showed at Stratford and Haydock in the spring. Jonjo O'Neill has had the summer to work on his jumping technique so we can expect improvement and he's well treated on his form over hurdles. It's unlikely Uttoxeter winner Feast Of Fire will be good enough here off an 8lb higher mark.
Desert Joe (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Held up in last trio, headway tracking leaders 6th, pushed along in 5th before 4 out, rallied into 3rd at the last, kept on run-in, nearly snatched 2nd but no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind The Skyfarmer (10-12) at Newbury 3m hcp (3) gd in Mar.
Benevolent (IRE) 7-2fav (11-8) Close up, hampered 5 out and soon outpaced, ridden and headway to chase clear leader when left in lead 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in May beating Buck Mulligan (11-12) by 11l, 7 ran.
Set List (IRE) 6-1 (11-8) Towards rear, some headway 5 out, ridden and weakened before next, 5th of 10, 10 3/4l behind Ballykan (11-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Viva Steve (IRE) 3-1fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, driven to chase leading pair after 3 out, went 2nd approaching last, ridden and kept on flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Arthur's Oak (11-4) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Morney Wing (IRE) 9-2fav (10-7) Disputed lead early, 2nd from 3rd, reminders from 10th, on terms again before 3 out, headed before 2 out where mistake and unseated rider, at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp Good - Yielding in May.
Auvergnat (FR) 5-1 (11-9) Prominent, outpaced and no chance with leading pair before 4 out, weakening when lost 3rd 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 5, 26l behind Glen Countess (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in May.
Gold Ingot 10-1 (10-13) Prominent, led after 4th until after 8th, lost place 3 out, weakened from next, 6th of 7, dist behind Perfect Candidate (11-0) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
Cloudy Bob (IRE) 13-2 (11-11) Behind, headway when jumped right 5 out, headway approaching next, chased leaders 3 out, never a threat, 3rd of 9, 13l behind Valadom (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Sep.
Big Sound 15-2 (11-5) Held up in touch, closed 4th, lost place 10th, outpaced and well held from 14th, 5th of 7, 29l behind Feast Of Fire (10-1) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Feast Of Fire (IRE) 8-1 (10-1) Held up in touch, headway 11th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged next, led last, ridden out, won at Uttoxeter 3m hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Frampton (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
