chased leaders until weakened from 4 out
behind, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 3 out
in touch, jumped slowly 8th, well behind from 12th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, smooth headway from 12th, chased leaders 4 out, challenged 2 out, led approaching last, ridden out
led to 8th, stayed handy until ridden, weakened before 4 out
refused to race, took no part
tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered 4th, challenged 6th, led 8th, hit 11th, pressed 2 out, headed before last, mistake, no chance with winner, kept on for clear 2nd
not always fluent, in touch, hit 11th, chasing leaders in 3rd when hit 4 out, weakened from next
chased leader, challenged 10th to 2 out, weakened before last 2
in touch until jumped slowly, driven 9th, soon lost place, tailed off
Eskimo Jack is taken to score in the finale with Minella Silver and Knife Edge rated as the main dangers. The selection was a fair second behind Green Belt Flyer in Ireland when last seen out after a couple of fair efforts in better races than this. Today's slight step-up in trip should suit and he is taken to lead them home. Minella Silver rates the main danger as he was a good second at Cheltenham behind Let's Fly last time out but he has been off the racecourse for almost a year and he may just need the run on this occasion. Knife Edge finished fourth behind the useful Denvale at Wetherby last time but that was over a longer trip than this and he will certainly be more at home over this distance. Coral Island is a course and distance winner and with the useful Polly Gundry in the plate he is another to consider, but for the winner we will return to Eskimo Jack.
Be My Dream (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) In touch, lost place 12th, soon well behind, 5th of 14, well behind Mrs Be (11-7) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (B) sft in May.
Hot Plunge 8-1 (12-7) 2nd of 14, 15l behind To The Top (12-3) at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gd in Feb.
Sporting Chance 10-1 (12-0) 3rd of 5, 9l behind Kestick (12-0) at Wadebridge 3m ptp gf in Feb.
Christy Beamish (IRE) Evensfav (12-5) Won at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Another Raleagh (12-5) by 1l, 8 ran.
Coral Island 20-1 (11-0) 2nd of 9, 6l behind Mrs Be (10-7) at Dunthrop 3m 5f ptp gd in Jan.
Eskimo Jack (IRE) 12-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 4th, improved into 2nd 5 out, led next, strongly pressed from 2 out, headed after last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Green Belt Flyer (11-4) at Naas 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 gs in Oct.
Knife Edge (USA) 5-1 (11-5) Held up in mid-division, headway to track leaders 8th, mistake 5 out, one pace from 3 out, 4th of 10, 8l behind Denvale (11-11) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) sft in Feb.
Lightning Strikes (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Held up, headway after 8th, ridden and mistake 3 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, 6th of 12, well behind Drombeag (12-0) at Huntingdon 3m hts chs (6) gd in Feb.
Minella Silver (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway 12th, went 2nd 4 out, ridden and switched left after 2 out, every chance last, ran on, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Let's Fly (12-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hts chs (H) gd in Apr.
To The Top Evensfav (12-3) Won at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gd in Feb beating Hot Plunge (12-7) by 15l, 14 ran.
