led, tended to jump right, hit 9th, driven and headed last, soon ridden, kept on and every chance until no extra final 75 yards
held up, always in rear, outpaced before 3 out, tailed off
tracked leaders, went 2nd after 5 out, lost place 2 out, no impression before last
tracked leaders on outside, slightly outpaced 3 out, rallied last, ridden to lead flat, kept on
held up in touch, hit 9th, tracked leaders 4 out, driven and one pace before 2 out, no impression before last
chased leaders, driven 5 out, lost place next, no impression from 3 out
tracked leader, lost place and reminders after 5 out, regained 2nd 2 out, led last, ridden and headed flat, kept on, held towards finish
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
STRONGPOINT (NAP) never seems to run a bad race over fences or hurdles. All trips and ground appear to come alike to Stuart Crawford's 11-year-old, who is fancied to follow up a good third at Punchestown by conceding weight all round. Ireland are strongly represented with Bearly Legal, Mister First and Russian Regent also holding decent claims, though Back To Baloo is still being let down by his jumping. Paul Nicholls has sent Vesperal Dream up on the long trip from Somerset while Aintree second Gleann Na Ndochais won twice over course and distance last year. Habbie Simpson is back on a winning mark but would have preferred more give in the ground.
Strongpoint (IRE) 14-1 (10-3) Held up in mid-division, progress into 7th 4 out, improved into 4th entering straight, ridden in 3rd and no impression 2 out, kept on one pace from before last, 3rd of 18, 15l behind Ballyadam Approach (9-7) at Punchestown 2m 4f hcp chs in Apr.
Back To Balloo (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Held up towards rear, chasing leaders in a dispute of 6th when fell 5th, in a race won by Real Steel (11-5) at Punchestown 2m hcp chs gd in May, 10 ran.
Bearly Legal (IRE) 5-2fav (11-8) Mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders 3 out, soon outpaced, mistake last, ran on closing stages, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 7, 10l behind Gray Hession (11-0) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Vesperal Dream (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 5th, in rear when mistake 7th, driven before jumped slowly 12th, soon behind, went modest 5th before 2 out, 5th of 10, well behind Cocktails At Dawn (11-4) at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs (2) gd in Apr.
Mister First (FR) 10-3 (11-8) In rear and in touch, headway before 4 out, went 2nd from 2 out on bit, hit last, ridden run-in, soon led, kept on, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in May beating Russian Regent (11-5) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Habbie Simpson 4-1 (11-4) Held up in touch in rear, cajoled along from 6th, reminders next, chased clear pair 2 out, ridden and stayed on to take modest 2nd flat, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 7l behind Glen Countess (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in May.
Russian Regent (IRE) 11-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders in 3rd, improved to dispute lead 6th, ridden 3 out, soon headed, 3rd next, kept on same pace from last, 3rd of 7, 11l behind As De Pique (9-4) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs 0-116 gd in May.
Problema Tic (FR) 9-2 (10-12) Prominent until 2nd, soon given reminder and lost place, took little interest after and several slow jumps, behind when pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Bear's Affair (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in May '14, 11 ran.
Gleann Na Ndochais (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) In touch, challenged 2 out, ridden and every chance last, held by winner flat, stayed on, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Lucky Landing (11-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May.
