held up behind in touch, headway 12th, driven to chase leaders 3 out, went 3rd next, soon ridden, kept on same pace, not reach front pair
tracked leader, led 3rd to next, led again 5th, mistake 9th, joined 3 out, headed narrowly next, soon ridden, rallied to regain narrow lead near finish
held up in touch, tracked leaders 10th, ridden after 3 out, one pace next, never on terms, weakened approaching last
led to 3rd, led again when not fluent next, headed 5th, in touch, lost place 4 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out, blundered last
held up behind in touch when fell 7th
tracked leaders, lost place when stumbled on bend after 10th, soon behind, no danger after
tracked leaders, lost place 9th, outpaced 12th, behind from 4 out
tracked leaders, driven after 4 out, ridden and outpaced by front pair after next, lost 3rd 2 out, no impression after
tracked leaders, went 2nd from 6th, upsides 3 out, led narrowly next, soon ridden, kept on until headed and no extra near finish
Nonrunner
Art Mauresque has been raised 5lb since his second in Grade 2 at Cheltenham, when Cloud Creeper was fourth, and is now on a career-high mark. Philip Hobbs trains the latter and also Carrigmorna King, who should be capable of confirming Taunton running with Sew On Target, and Al Alfa. The latter won over hurdles here in September while Fox Appeal went close at Newbury last month. PORTWAY FLYER had subsequent Haydock winner Ballybolley seven lengths behind when scoring easily at Kempton in March. He is 11lb higher here but has the scope for further improvement and is still receiving weight all round. Quite By Chance and Workbench are no mugs but Astracad is not the force of old.
Cloud Creeper (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place 6th, pecked slightly 9th, mistake 3 out, soon outpaced, 4th from 2 out, 4th of 8, 16 1/2l behind Voix D'eau (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Art Mauresque (FR) 4-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, not fluent 4 out, went 2nd before 2 out, challenging when not fluent last, held after, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Voix D'eau (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Carrigmorna King (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leader, driven 3 out, challenged next, led narrowly when left clear last, ridden out, won at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Sew On Target (11-11) by 5l, 4 ran.
Sew On Target (IRE) 11-8fav (11-11) Jumped left virtually throughout, led, headed afer 4 out, ridden and behind after 3 out, staying on when left 2nd at last, no impression, 2nd of 4, 5l behind Carrigmorna King (11-12) at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Workbench (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, modest 8th between last 2, never threatened and well beaten last, 8th of 12, 26 3/4l behind Katachenko (10-10) at Aintree 2m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Quite By Chance 9-2 (11-12) Held up, closed 5th, not fluent 8th, outpaced 4 out, well beaten next, plugged on to take 3rd close home, 3rd of 6, 13 1/2l behind Dont Do Mondays (11-0) at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
Astracad (FR) 40-1 (10-3) Mid-division, lost place 8th, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out, at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Al Alfa 100-1 (10-0) Mid-division on outside, outpaced 3 out, never reached leaders, 10th of 29, dist behind Eastlake (10-11) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Portway Flyer (IRE) 11-2 (10-4) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 8th, 2nd approaching 4 out, led next, clear before 2 out, ridden between last two, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar beating Cernunnos (11-7) by 7l, 13 ran.
Fox Appeal (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, 3rd before 4 out, kept on run-in, went 2nd towards finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Thomas Crapper (11-3) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
