behind, hit 2nd, headway 12th, stayed on from 3 out, kept on flat, went 3rd near finish
never travelling towards rear, modest 7th and no chance when pulled up before 3 out
led until after 2nd, led 3rd until 10th, led 12th, about 2 lengths ahead when fell 4 out
behind, tailed off when pulled up before 10th
in touch, behind from 8th, tailed off
chased leaders, outpaced before 10th, weakened next, tailed off
keen, prominent, lost place 8th, tailed off 10th, pulled up before 4 out
mistake 1st, held up, steady headway 10th, left 3rd 4 out, chased leader 2 out, stayed on to lead final 100 yards
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 8th, left 2nd 4 out, led 2 out, looked in command last, no extra and headed final 100 yards
keen, led after 2nd until next, led 10th until 12th, left in lead 4 out, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching last
towards rear, headway to mid-division 8th, chased leaders 10th, left 4th 4 out, weakened from next
behind, headway 8th, chased leaders 10th, going strongly in 4th when brought down 4 out
jumped right throughout, always behind, tailed off
A competitive finale which may go to PENNY DOC ahead of Mic Aubin and Oscar Royal. The selection was a regular winner between the flags in Ireland and has added two more victories to his name this season before running creditably in the Fox Hunters at Aintree and he should go close here as long as that race hasn't left a mark. Mic Aubin made a successful return to racing under Rules when winning on heavy ground over course and distance last month and has to be feared with the quicker conditions not expected to pose any problems for him. Oscar Royal is better than he was able to show at Towcester where he raced far too keenly for his own good and he'll need to settle better if he's to last home over this trip. Thunder Child and Ryeman need to improve but have talented pilots in the plate whilst Shooters Wood comes here on the back of a decent win but Penny Doc is the one that they all have to beat.
Penny Doc (IRE) 40-1 (12-0) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders approaching 10th (Bechers Brook), weakened from 2 out, 6th of 21, 44l behind Silver Adonis (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (2) gs.
Mic Aubin (FR) 7-1 (11-5) Always prominent, led after 3 out, ridden clear, redily, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) hvy in Mar beating What Of It (11-5) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Ashclyst (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) (tt) made all; unchall, won at Badbury Rings 3m ptp gf beating Deloughtane (12-0) by 20l, 5 ran.
Austin Approved 20-1 (12-0) Prsd ldr to 13; wknd 3 out; pu nxt, in a race won by Alambique (12-0) at Trebudannon 3m ptp gs, 5 ran.
Captain Machell (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) (cp) led til hdd aft blun 3 out; sn outpcd, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Pimbury (12-0) at Bishops Court 3m ptp gs in Mar.
Gin 'n' Fonic (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Led 7-9; wknd up 12, 6th of 9, 48l behind Pertinent (12-0) at Badbury Rings 3m ptp gf.
Oscar Royal (IRE) 15-2 (11-5) Led, clear 3rd until approaching 6th, headed after 3 out, soon beaten, weakened 2 out, 5th of 7, 48l behind Farmer Frank (11-13) at Towcester 2m hts chs (6) hvy.
Port Talbot (IRE) 4-1 (12-0) Prom; led 14-15; sn wknd; pu 2 out, in a race won by Make Or Break (12-0) at Lockinge 3m ptp gd, 7 ran.
Ryeman 9-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 10th, soon chasing leaders, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Mic Aubin (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) hvy in Mar, 9 ran.
Shooters Wood (IRE) 6-4 (12-0) Led 9; held on wl, won at Ston Easton 2m 4f ptp in Mar beating Aironageestring (12-0) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Thunder Child 4-1 (12-0) Ap; led 13 til hdd aft 2 out; no ex last, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Le Duc (12-0) at Cothelstone 3m ptp gf.
Walter De Wodeland 7-1 (11-5) Led until after 3 out, lost place before last, 5th of 9, 39l behind Mic Aubin (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) hvy in Mar.
Coral Cay 2-5 (12-3) Cl 3rd when ur 15, in a race won by Beluga (12-0) at Tweseldown 3m ptp gf, 4 ran.
Presenting Jack (IRE) 7-4 (12-0) (tt) led to 7 & 11 til hdd aft 4 out; kpt on one pce, 2nd of 4, 1l behind Meilyr (12-0) at Upcott Cross 3m ptp gd.
