mid-division, headway on outside 11th, outpaced when pecked 4 out, no chance with leaders from next
mistakes, held up in last pair, struggling 10th, tailed off 3 out
tracked leader, lost place 11th, soon behind, tailed off 3 out, pulled up before next
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 11th, led next, stumbled 4 out, headed when hit 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, lost 2nd last
led, reminders after 9th, hit next, mistake 11th, headed next, lost place 4 out, weakened next
in touch, outpaced 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up 2 out
mid-division, headway under pressure 4 out, soon chased leading pair, rallied after 2 out, went 2nd when not fluent last, ridden and stayed on to lead near finish
held up in rear, headway when mistake 11th, wenrt 2nd 4 out, soon challenged, led 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on until headed and no extra near finish
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, struggling 9th, no danger after
Thunder Child has been in terrific form at Taunton, completing his hat-trick with an 11-length defeat of Kirby's Glen at the Somerset track last month. Simon Burrough's grey is 11lb higher here, however, and has to give 13lb to DIAMOND ECLIPSE. Nick Williams' charge is a half-brother to useful chaser Il Duce so was always likely to prove much better over fences than hurdles and makes his debut over the larger obstacles here off a very lenient mark. Master Somerville and Life Of A Luso look thoroughly exposed but Oscar Close still has time on his side, though may just need the experience here.
Oscar Close (IRE) 9-4fav (11-3) Mid-division, headway to track leading leading pair before 3 out until before 2 out, rallied to go again 3rd last, kept on one pace, 3rd of 9, 16l behind Beau Lake (11-0) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Port Talbot (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, mistakes 1st and 5th, headway approaching 10th, blundered 13th, well held by leaders before 4 out, 5th of 10, 26l behind Theatre Diva (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
Master Somerville 15-8 (11-12) Led or disputed lead to 4 out, ridden and outpaced in 3rd approaching next, went 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Gentleman Anshan (10-11) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Mar.
Brimham Boy 6-1 (11-8) Led, headed 4th, weakened 8th, pulled up 10th, in a race won by Maurisca (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Thunder Child 15-8fav (10-12) Made all, quickened pace from 8th, stayed on well from 3 out, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) fm in Apr beating Kirbys Glen (10-9) by 11l, 6 ran.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 3-1fav (11-2) Towards rear, driven along in about 7th and struggling after 3 out, no chance, 6th of 14, 13l behind Body Gold (10-10) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Feb.
Life Of A Luso (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent and hampered 2nd, headway 9th, outpaced after 2 out, no impression after, plugged on flat, 5th of 14, 14l behind Paint The Clouds (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd in Apr.
Diamond Eclipse (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway before 6th, chased leaders 4 out, weakened after next, 10th of 12, 33l behind Manshoor (11-3) at Plumpton 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gs in Jan.
Oranger (FR) 11-2 (10-8) Held up in rear, pushed along approaching 10th when slipped, soon lost place, not recover, 5th of 8, well behind Bajan Sunshine (10-0) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
