chased leader, ridden 15th, 3rd and weakening when jumped badly right 4 out
held up last, reminder after 10th, pulled up after 13th
towards rear, ridden 11th, stayed on from 14th, chased leader 4 out, challenged 2 out, led approaching last, ran on gamely flat
mid-division, ridden 14th, stayed on one pace from 4 out
in touch, ridden and headway 14th, weakened quickly 16th, pulled up before 4 out
led 2nd, not fluent 11th, 5 lengths clear when not fluent 3 out, headed and ridden approaching last, stayed on same pace
always towards rear, weakened 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
led to 1st, mid-division until blundered badly 13th, soon pulled up
Gumley Gale makes a quick reappearance and can go one better at the expense of He's The Biz, Tremallt and Scotch Corner. Gumley Gale has been showing signs that he is about to strike winning form again, and the Kevin Bishop-trained gelding went extremely close at Worcester on Tuesday evening. Sent into the lead between the last two fences, he was headed by Personal Assurance but came back upsides on the run-in, and it was only an inspired ride on the latter by Tony McCoy that denied him right on the line. Turned out quickly before the handicapper responds, Gumley Gale can put matters right today. He's The Biz was well in arrears when falling at Stratford at the weekend, having earlier been successful in novice company here and at Worcester. He may struggle off his revised mark but at least has plenty of scope at the age of six. Old Tremallt faces an easier task than of late but still has plenty of weight, while Scotch Corner has yet to win over fences. All in all, this represents a great chance for Gumley Gale to gain his seventh career win.
Tremallt (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Led to 2nd, mistake and lost place 6th, mistake 10th (Becher's), towards rear when fell 5 out in race won by Katarino (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hts chs (B) gs in Apr, 30 ran.
Yann's (FR) 16-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, ridden 14th, soon weakened, 5th of 8, 36l behind Bunratty Castle (11-8) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Apr.
Gumley Gale 10-1 (11-8) Always prominent, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, led again flat, headed close home, ran on, 2nd of 10, shd behind Personal Assurance (11-3) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
Dear Deal 7-1 (11-6) With leader and keen, bad mistake 11th, ridden from next, stayed on but unable to reach leaders, 4th of 8, 12l behind Were In Touch (11-10) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd.
He's The Biz (FR) 7-1 (10-7) Held up, hit 9th, behind when fell at the 14th in race won by Gallik Dawn (10-2) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd, 11 ran.
Slyboots (GER) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders till ridden, lost place, soon well behind, last of 5, 45l behind Joshua's Bay (11-7) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-110 (E) gf in Oct '03.
