tracked leaders, pushed along 6th, ridden 4 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up, dropped to rear 4th, headway 9th, soon chased clear winner, closed on winner 2 out, hit last no extra
mainly jumped right, tracked leader, led 6th, clear 8th, reduced lead 2 out, ridden and stayed on gamely
led, headed 6th, tracked winner until 9th, weakened next, tailed off
not jump well, in rear, ridden 7th, soon pulled up
MIDNIGHT THOMAS (NAP) was in front and looking the likely winner when blundering and unseating Conor Shoemark at Southwell last month. He's been raised 4lb since but still has a bit of scope and won on soft ground over hurdles at Worcester around this time last year. Ballyegan won twice at Taunton in March but has struggled off higher mark since while the handicapper isn't making life easy for Olympian Boy, who hasn't won over fences in more than two years. Accessallareas should have benefited from last week's run at Towcester but Humbel Ben is harder to fancy, though only a pound higher than for his last win.
Olympian Boy (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, headway 8 out, challenged 4 out, chance last, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind My Silver Cloud (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Humbel Ben (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, not always fluent, hampered 6th, jumped left and reminder next, mistake and well beaten 4 out, 6th of 9, 35l behind Kerryhead Storm (11-4) at Ludlow 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Feb.
Accessallareas (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, left disputing 2nd 7th until 3 out, chased leading pair, weakened before 2 out, lost moderate 3rd run-in, 4th of 5, 17l behind Beauchamp Viking (10-2) at Towcester 2m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gf in Apr.
Ballyegan (IRE) 6-4fav (9-7) Tracked leader until jumped right 5 out, ridden next, kept on same pace, 3rd of 4, 12l behind Itsuptoyou (11-8) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gf in Apr.
Midnight Thomas 8-1 (9-11) Mistake 1st, behind, tracked leaders 7th, led after 2 out, 1 length clear and staying on when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Gin Cobbler (10-2) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 8 ran.