in touch, not much room on bend after 12th, soon outpaced towards rear, plugged on again flat
chased leaders, ridden along before 4 out, soon outpaced, plugged on again flat
badly hampered 1st, mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, went 3rd and stayed on same pace flat
in touch, not much room on inside bend after 12th, weakened soon after, blundered 2 out
towards rear, blundered 2nd, steady headway 9th, blundered next, headway 13th, chased leaders and pushed along before 4 out, one pace and no impression before last, weakened flat
mid-division on inside, weakened approaching 13th, no chance when mistake 2 out
fell 1st
chased leaders, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders, pushed along and losing place when mistake 13th, weakened, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
led after 1st, headed 6th, chased leader, led agai after 12th, narrowly headed 3 out, soon ridden, chased leaders in 3rd, not fluent last, one pace into 4th flat
held up in rear and not fluent early, headway approaching 13th, chased leaders before next, led 3 out until next, kept on same pace and no chance with winner from last
towards rear, badly hampered on inside on bend after 12th, steady headway 4 out, chased leaders next, led 2 out, driven and in command between last 2, stayed on strongly
led until after 1st, chased leader, led again 6th until after 12th, pushed along before next, weakened from 3 out
towards rear, headway on outside approaching 9th, not fluent 4 out, chased leaders from 3 out, stayed on under pressure to modest 5th flat
always behind, tailed off
chased leaders, went 2nd after 12th, led briefly approaching 3 out, chased leaders, ridden and weakened before last
behind, blundered and nearly unseated rider 4th, tailed off and pulled up before last
fell 1st
Nonrunner
With three course wins to his name, supporters have every right to expect another bold showing from recent Cheltenham winner Handy Andy. Violin Davis will strip fitter for her run at Carlisle while The Druids Nephew shaped nicely at Stratford. Bangor third Opera Og doesn't look badly treated but is taking on better opposition today and No Secrets has his first start since pulling up at The Festival in March. CARRIGMORNA KING still has a bit to learn about jumping fences but is very lightly raced and proved his well-being with a win over hurdles at Wincanton nine days ago, though was probably booked for second when the leader fell at the last. He's weighted to reverse Ludlow form last season with Arthur's Pass and we'll give him another chance here. Ruben Cotter is better than he showed behind Handy Andy at Cheltenham but might find this on the short side while What A Warrior still looks too high in the weights.
Solix (FR) 18-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 4th, soon in rear and in touch, weakened before 3 out, left poor 4th last, 4th of 5, 33l behind Bury Parade (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f grad ch (2) gs.
What A Warrior (IRE) 12-1 (11-0) In touch, soon dropped to mid-division, reminders before 5 out, soon outpaced, plugged on to go 3rd before last , no impression, 4th of 9, 20l behind Midnight Appeal (10-10) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) hvy.
Ruben Cotter (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, dropped towards rear 8th, ridden to chase leaders after 3 out, soon no impression, weakened next, 9th of 10, 34l behind Handy Andy (10-5) at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd.
Hector's Choice (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Prominent, lost place and ridden 13th, weakened 4 out, 7th of 9, 39l behind Kapga De Cerisy (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft.
Violin Davis (FR) 11-1 (10-9) Tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, closed after 7th, mistake 11th, soon struggling, weakened 3 out, 4th of 5, 33l behind Cloudy Too (11-6) at Carlisle 2m 4f Listed chs (1) hvy.
Sir Du Bearn (FR) 50-1 (11-9) In rear, soon in touch in 4th, mistake 10th, weakened after 4 out, fell last, in a race won by Bury Parade (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f grad ch (2) gs, 5 ran.
The Druids Nephew (IRE) 13-8fav (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place 3rd, mistake next, outpaced 8th, some headway before 2 out, no impression, 4th of 9, 9l behind Mart Lane (11-3) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Oct.
Arthur's Pass 3-1 (11-12) Mid-division, mistake 5th, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Ikorodu Road (11-5) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct, 8 ran.
Handy Andy (IRE) 15-2 (10-5) Tracked leaders, went 2nd going well 3 out, soon challenged, ridden to lead flat, stayed on well towards finish, won at Cheltenham 3m am hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd beating Charingworth (10-9) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
No Secrets (IRE) 12-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, lost place 14th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before last (usual 2 out), in a race won by Same Difference (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Carrigmorna King (IRE) 4-1fav (11-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, driven and looked held 3 1/2 lengths down when slightly hampered and left clear last, won at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd beating Bygones Sovereign (10-6) by 7l, 12 ran.
Tatenen (FR) 33-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, not fluent 11th, pushed along and losing place when slightly hampered before 3 out, 15th of 19, well behind Quentin Collonges (10-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Mr Gardner (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Raced keenly, led, headed narrowly 8th, lost place 11th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, 28l behind Gas Line Boy (11-9) at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Valoroso 10-3fav (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, led before next, soon pressed, stayed on well before last, won at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) hvy in Mar beating Full Of Joy (11-7) by 6l, 7 ran.
Kilcrea Asla (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, not fluent 7th, headway after next, ridden 4 out, weakened final 250 yards, virtually pulled up, 8th of 11, 29l behind Fine Parchment (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in May.
Gus Macrae (IRE) 20-1 (10-4) Mid-division on outside, driven 8th, kept on same pace under pressure from 3 out, never near leaders, 7th of 17, 15l behind Anay Turge (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd.
Rendl Beach (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from 7th, ridden before 2 out soon weakened, 4th of 6, 43l behind Colebrooke (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f (3) hvy.
Opera Og (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 3rd, led before 2 out, clear before last, headed and no extra and lost 2nd place towards finish, 3rd of 9, 1l behind Allerton (10-1) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft.
Triptico (FR) 9-1 (10-10) Towards rear, blundered 5th, blundered 7th, one pace before 3 out, 4th of 12, 15l behind Ultimate (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 4f Listed Handicap Chase (0-155) (4yo+) (1) gs.
