in touch and in rear, ridden before 5 out, went 3rd 3 out, kept on same from 2 out
behind, went 3rd from 5th until 3 out, ridden before 4 out, one pace
made all, not fluent 3 out, clear when mistake 2 out, kept on
tracked leaders, weakened before 5 out
tracked leader, fell 5th
held up in touch, blundered and left 2nd from 5th, kept on from 3 out, no chance with winner
The novice Sonofagun will be fancied for this after back-to-back wins at Stratford and Ludlow but could be biting off more than he can chew in this company. Lidar hasn't really fired this season while Shooters Wood finished behind Changing The Guard when both were unplaced in the Grand Annual in Cheltenham but the latter would not have finished ahead of OISEAU DE NUIT had Colin Tizzard's veteran not fallen two out. The top weight can gain a deserved victory eased in grade as Saved By John often flatters to deceive.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Mid-division, not much room on inside after 8th, plugged on from 3 out, never any chance with leaders, 6th of 16, 18l behind Parsnip Pete (10-10) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Lidar (FR) 7-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd from 2nd, mistake 3rd, lost place when not fluent 8th, well beaten 4 out, last of 9, well behind Doeslessthanme (11-1) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
Changing The Guard 16-1 (10-13) Held up in rear, jumped left 1st, blundered 3 out, mistake next, switched left and headway approaching last where not fluent, no impression, 8th of 16, 19l behind Parsnip Pete (10-10) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Shooters Wood (IRE) 40-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, driven and lost place after 3 out, weakened next, 16th of 23, 47l behind Savello (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Saved By John (IRE) 14-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led 10th, headed 5 out, weakened next, 6th of 11, 30l behind Lost Legend (11-2) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Mar.
Sonofagun (FR) 7-2 (9-13) Tracked leaders, blundered 2nd, lost place 5th, headway next, not fluent 7th, hit 9th, one pace 4 out, rallied before 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Mar beating Oyster Shell (11-0) by 1l, 8 ran.