led, slowed into 1st, bumped and headed, led 3rd, joined 4 out, headed 3 out, no chance with winner next
jumped left at times, held up in rear, closed from 6th, went 2nd 8th, challenged 4 out, led next, clear 3 out, easily
chased leaders, bumped 2nd, went 2nd 5th until 9th, lost place and not much room 10th, tailed off
left in lead and bumped 1st, not fluent 2nd, headed 3rd, lost place 7th, reminder 8th, jumped left, mistake and lost place 10th, well behind 4 out, tailed off
chased leaders, not fluent 2nd or 11th, soon struggling, well behind 4 out, tailed off
prominent, bumped and lost place 2nd, chased leaders, struggling 7th, towards rear next, well behind 12th, pulled up after 4 out
in rear, hampered 2nd, pushed along 5th, went remote 3rd 4 out, tailed off
Leading stables lock horns but there are doubts about their representatives. Swapped, backed into favouritism on a first start following wind surgery, produced a mid-division finish and was dropped 3lb as a result. With just four hurdling runs on the board, there's ample time for improvement over fences. CHIEF BLACK ROBE didn't score in ten starts in the pointing sphere but cruised home on his chase debut for Fergal O'Brien this month, a dramatic improvement from the gelding. He receives the vote in the hope he'll back up that sterling effort. Seymour Promise has useful hurdling form over a variety of trips but is another who's untried over fences, whilst Paul Nicholls wastes little time in putting Imprevu Du Large over fences after just four hurdling starts which have seen the gelding quite well beaten.
Swapped (FR) 9-4fav (11-6) In touch on inside, lost place 6th, mistake and struggling 3 out, switched outside before 2 out, no impression, 6th of 11, 9 3/4l behind Surtitle (11-10) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Chief Black Robe (IRE) 3-1 (12-0) Held up, headway 7th, chased leader by omitted 4 out, led 3 out, clear next, comfortable (4 out omitted), won at Market Rasen 3m hcp (5) gd in May beating Whataboutyeh (11-7) by 27l, 7 ran.
Seymour Promise (IRE) 9-2 (10-13) Prominent, jumped left throughout, ridden and dropped away before 3 out, tailed off, 7th of 8, dist behind Armchair Farmer (11-11) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Imprevu Du Large (FR) 16-5 (10-2) Led narrowly, joined 5th, pushed along and headed 3 out, no extra before last, 3rd of 6, 16 3/4l behind Scrum Diddly (11-10) at Ludlow 3m hcp (5) gd in May.
Mountain Grey (IRE) 16-1 (10-10) Always well behind, pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (5) gd in May.
Broadoak 17-2 (10-2) Towards rear, not fluent 4th, ridden and struggling 9th, well beaten 3 out, pulled up after, at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Apr.
Justshortofabubble 4-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, headway from 11th, mistake 13th and 14th, well beaten 4 out, 7th of 11, dist behind Easkey Lad (11-6) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (5) gf in May.
