in touch, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up, headway to chase leaders 3 out, kept on one pace
made most until 3 out, still close up when blundered last, weakening towards finish, held on to 3rd
keen in touch, tracked leaders 5th, pressed leader 7th, led 3 out but stumbled on landing and headed, rallied last, stayed on
in rear, ridden 3rd, behind when pulled up before 7th
in touch, weakened 6th, behind next, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, pulled up before next
with leader until 7th, soon ridden, weakened 3 out
in rear, ridden 5th, headway 9th, chased leader 3 out, soon led, driven and hung right approaching last, stayed on
There wasn't a great deal between most of these over hurdles. Jive Master was probably about the best of them on his form in the spring but he's finished tailed off in both recent starts. Rear Admiral won at Catterick earlier this month and has already won four times between the flags. He shouldn't be far away while Coastal Boy should do better now tackling fences and the filly Marie Des Anges is a well-built individual but Qalinas and Memorabilia both return from a lay-off. SAMSTOWN won on heavy going at Hexham in June so should revel in conditions and he's taken to put some disappointing recent efforts on faster ground behind him to win over larger obstacles at the first time of asking.
Coastal Boy (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, under pressure approaching 3 out, soon lost place, 7th of 8, 37l behind Meganisi (11-5) at Newbury 2m nh nov hdl (3) sft in Nov.
Comeragh King 10-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, effort before 2 out, never dangerous, 12th of 17, 48l behind Monkey Milan (11-9) at Newcastle 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Jive Master (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, lost place and dropped to rear 2nd, ridden and headway to chase leaders 3 out, weakened next, heavily eased and came home in own time, 8th of 9, well behind Who Owns Me (11-7) at Fakenham 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft.
Qalinas (FR) 15-8fav (11-4) Led, driven 4 lengths clear when slipped badly on landing 2 out, headed between last 2, soon ridden, rallied flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Cool Cascade (10-0) at Worcester 2m 4f cond nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) sft in Jul.
Rear Admiral (IRE) 5-1fav (11-1) Tracked leaders, went 2nd when not fluent 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Catterick 2m 3f con hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs beating Funky Munky (10-9) by 3/4l, 16 ran.
Samstown 14-1 (10-1) Held up in touch, weakened before 2 out, 11th of 15, 25l behind Parc Des Princes (10-5) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Memorabilia 6-1fav (10-11) Held up in mid-division, ridden approaching 2 out, no impression in 7th when mistake last, 8th of 13, 17l behind Specialagent Alfie (11-7) at Sandown 2m cond hcp hdl 0-1115 (4) gd in Feb.
Vintage Red 66-1 (11-0) Held up in mid-division, struggling after 6th, 7th of 10, 39l behind Taquin Du Seuil (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) gs in Oct.
Xenophon 16-1 (9-11) Always in rear, behind from 6th, never on terms, 4th of 6, 30l behind Savant Bleu (11-1) at Fakenham 3m beg chs (4) sft.
Marie Des Anges (FR) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway after 5th, no extra 2 out, 8th of 10, 17l behind Natural High (11-6) at Worcester 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Oct.
