led to ridden, not fluent, headed 4 out, rallying when left in lead 2 out, fell last
chased leader, weakened 9th, pulled up before 10th
held up in mid-division, headway, chased leader 7th, pecked 9th, mistake 11th, led 4 out, ridden after 3 out, fell 2 out
held up last, mistake 8th, reminders after, weakened 9th, pulled up before 11th
mid-division, headway 9th, ridden, lost touch 11th, left poor 3rd 2 out, left 2nd last
held up towards rear, headway 8th, ridden, chased leaders approaching 4 out, left 3rd, slightly hampered 2 out, left in lead last, easily
prominent, lost place, weakened after 8th, left poor 4th 2 out, left 3rd last
McBain is the pick here ahead of Blue Americo, Imazulutoo and Club Royal. McBain bounced back from an absence to score over hurdles at Taunton at the end of March and was then put away to ensure that he got his favoured ground. The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding took on useful company over timber and is sure to have been well schooled for his chasing debut. With Richard Johnson to guide him round, a successful start to his new career looks very much on the cards. Blue Americo has slightly more experience over fences than the selection but was not quite as good over hurdles and it has to be said that he looked one-paced at Worcester. Imazulutoo needs a confidence-boosting round, while Club Royal was a moderate third over the bigger obstacles at Worcester and was not in the same league as Mcbain over hurdles. The latter should stamp his class on this field and could be the sort to run up a sequence.
Blue Americo (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 12th, ridden 3 out, weakened 2 out, 2nd of 9, 16l behind Ryders Storm (11-2) at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd in Apr.
Club Royal 14-1 (10-9) In touch, led 10th, headed 12th, ridden to chase winner 4 out, weakened after 2 out, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Oakfield Legend (10-4) at Worcester 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in May.
Down The Stretch 40-1 (10-11) Keen and led after 1st, headed next, weakened 6th, behind when pulled up 3 out in race won by Intersky Falcon (11-0) at N Abbot 2m nov chs (3) gf in May, 6 ran.
Kiwi Riverman 5-1 (9-9) Always towards rear, not fluent 5th, 8th of 14, well behind Methodical (10-6) at Taunton 2m 3f cnd sll hcp hdl (5) gd in Jan.
McBain (USA) 12-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, headway after 8th, ridden 2 out, led last, all out, won at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Mar beating Nanga Parbat (10-13) by a nk, 15 ran.
Sesame Rambler (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Chased leaders until ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 13, 28l behind Brooklyn Brownie (10-9) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf in Apr.
Fallout (IRE) 12-1 (10-9) Mid-division, ridden 10th, weakened 4 out, 6th of 9, well behind John Foley (10-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Imazulutoo (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Keen, stumbled and unseated rider in race won by Jockser (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr, 17 ran.