held up in touch, quickly weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, no impression from next
prominent, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before next
held up, headway approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, hit and headed last, rallied to lead again towards finish, driven out
held up and keen, headway 5th, ridden approaching 2 out, led last, headed towards finish, no extra
held up towards rear, weakened from 4th, hit next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
chased leader, led after 3 out, headed when quickly weakened and pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, never dangerous
led, headed after 3 out, one pace from next
held up towards rear, pushed along after 3rd, weakened from 5th
Nonrunner
General Smith, Muntami and The Crook are shortlisted here, with preference for General Smith to follow up a recent success. Muntami has been successful on the Flat and over jumps this year, scoring in his latest hurdling contest, an amateur riders' affair. He can go well here but races off an eight pound higher mark and that can prove a stopper. The Crook ran an improved race to be placed at Wetherby last time, although it was only a modest affair. Nonetheless off his light weight he can play a part here. General Smith also turned in an imprved effort to upset Osprey View last time, and the runner-up has run well in defeat since. Raised six pounds for that Worcester success, General Smith can take command again here.
Viper 13-8fav (11-7) Prominent, not fluent 1st, led 3rd, jumped right 3 out, soon headed, weakening when blundered badly 2 out, 9th of 15, 26l behind Spirit of New York (11-0) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Masafi (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Very keen to post, pulled hard, with leader until 5th, weakened quickly 3 out, 14th of 17, well behind Oslot (11-3) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gf in Apr.
Sir Night (IRE) 10-1 (10-10) Tracked leader, led 4th to before next, effort 3 out, no impression from next, 5th of 13, 9l behind Modicum (11-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf.
Muntami (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up, mistake 3rd, headway approaching 4th, led and mistake 2 out, edged left last, all out, won at Warwick 2m amt hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Mar beating Tarkesar (10-0) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
General Smith 14-1 (10-12) Held up, headway 3 out, mistake 2 out, led last, ridden out, won at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf beating Osprey View (11-1) by 3/4l, 15 ran.
Castleshane (IRE) 11-2 (11-3) Not fluent, led to 4th, losing touch with winner from 7th, lost 2nd approaching 4 out, 3rd of 4, 27l behind Chief Yeoman (11-3) at Leicester 2m beg chs (4) sft in Feb.
Peter's Imp (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Pushed along towards rear, headway 4 out, chased leader next, led approaching last, soon clear, won at Cartmel 2m 1f sll hcp hdl 0-90 (5) gs in Aug beating Lion's Domane (10-11) by 17l, 10 ran.
The Crook (IRE) 18-1 (10-2) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, ridden to chase leaders after next, kept on, no impression, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Dream Castle (11-3) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
