held up in chasing group, hit 4th, struggling next, headway after 3 out, led next, ran on, pushed out
held up in chasing group, mistake 1st, headway after 5th, ridden, every chance when hit 2 out, kept on, always held
chased clear leader, mistake 3rd, led approaching 5th, 20 lengths clear of chasing group 3 out, ridden, headed 2 out, weakened last
prominent in chasing group, ridden after 5th, weakened after 3 out
held up, headway after 5th, effort 2 out, soon one pace
led chasing group, weakened before 5th, tailed off, pulled up before 2 out
held up, ridden after 5th, headway approaching 2 out, kept on same pace
set good pace, headed approaching 5th, soon ridden, weakened after 3 out
held up towards rear, some late progress, never a factor
blundered 1st, always behind, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A terrible finish to the card and the most tentative of votes goes to Konigsbote ahead of Dark Energy and Kilmeena Magic. The selection, formerly trained, named, bred, fed, and watered in Germany comes here after a 243 day break. His final run last year was a fair effort behind the talented Deep Purple and although he may not be the most straightforward, if the market signs are positive then he may prove hard to beat. Dark Energy ran well behind Avant Garden last time at Wincanton, but his strike-rate is poor and it was hardly a Champion Hurdle that he contested last time. Kilmeena Magic is yet to win in 33 starts all told but she normally runs her race and shouldn't be too far away but if she wins then it would be a shock. Aleemdar's recent second at Fakenham reads fairly well and that was a return to form; with Tony McCoy booked to ride he may not be far away. At a price Dancewiththedevil could scrape a place; however we will tentatively side with Konigsbote.
Konigsbote (GER) 14-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakening when hit 2 out, 3rd of 7, 6l behind Deep Purple (11-12) at Exeter 2m 1f nov hdl (4) gf in Oct.
Dark Energy 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, steady progress from 3 out, went 3rd 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, 3rd of 19, 8l behind Avant Gardiste (10-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Constable Burton 40-1 (11-10) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened before next, 8th of 19, 41l behind Avant Gardiste (10-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Aleemdar (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, headway 4th, soon chasing leaders, led 6th, headed last no extra, 2nd of 12, 3l behind Rapscallion (10-12) at Fakenham 2m sll hdl (5) gf in May.
Dancewiththedevil (IRE) 7-1 (10-9) Towards rear, ridden and effort 3 out, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 14, 4l behind Le Beau Bai (10-11) at N Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in Apr.
Bubbs 40-1 (10-2) In touch, jumped right 4th, reminder approaching 6th, weakened 3 out, 7th of 12, 31l behind First Feerie (11-10) at Stratford 2m 3f amt hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Resplendent Star (IRE) 9-2 (12-5) In tch; rdn 14; outpcd 4 out, 4th of 9, 9l behind Cantarinho (12-5) at Higham 3m ptp gf in Jan.
Oyez (IRE) 20-1 (10-7) Led, clear 3rd until approaching 4th, headed 3 out, beaten before 2 out, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Twist Bookie (11-5) at Warwick 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Nov.
Krasivi's Boy (USA) 13-2 (11-3) Tracked leaders, reluctant to race after 5th and lost lost, soon tailed off, 8th of 14, 37l behind Ede's (10-8) at Plumpton 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-90 (5) sft in Feb.
Kandora 12-1 (10-0) Prominent, ridden and weakened approaching 2 out, tired when fell at the last in race won by Huguenot (10-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May, 14 ran.
Kilmeena Magic 9-1 (10-13) Chased leader, ridden 6th, one pace from 2 out, 4th of 11, 12l behind Beechwood (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Rosenblatt (GER) 11-1 (10-9) Not always fluent, reminders after 4th, always behind, tailed off approaching 6th, 13th of 14, well behind Desert Lover (11-0) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Keyneema 80-1 (10-9) Mid-division, effort 4 out, soon beaten, 8th of 13, 23l behind Royal Rationale (10-9) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
