led, already headed when blundered 3 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, chased leaders 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
chased leader until 11th (water), chased leaders until pushed along mistake and weakened 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
in rear, pushed along and struggling before 6th, tailed off and pulled up before 12th
towards rear, ridden and outpaced 14th, plugged on flat, no threat
mid-division, headway 10th, pushed along in 4th after 4 out, went 3rd 3 out, stayed on same pace from next
in touch in 5th, headway to chase leading pair 12th, went 2nd 3 out, challenged last, stayed on same pace flat
towards rear, headway approaching 4 out, went 4th 2 out, kept on same pace
chased leaders, went 2nd 11th (water), led approaching 3 out, pressed last, driven and stayed on well to assert flat
mid-division, mistake 2nd, outpaced before 4 out, kept on again flat, no threat
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, lost place 6th, mistake and weakened 14th, tailed off
held up in mid-division, effort 10th, pushed along after 14th, towards rear and already lost touch when blundered badly and unseated rider last
held up towards rear, headway 4 out, stayed on well flat, never going pace to reached leaders
Four-times course winner Mumbles Head is worth a second look here as his stable is in cracking form. West With The Wind and stable companion Buck Mulligan are better over shorter trips, however, while De Boitron has been raised a further 4lb for a close second at Wetherby. Nedzer's Return has only had one run under Rules since 2010 but Aneyeforaneye won twice here before disappointing at Market Rasen and there are also possibilities about former Cheltenham Festival winner Pigeon Island and Problema Tic. MERRION SQUARE has won four of his seven starts over fences and gave a lot of weight to a good yardstick over this trip at Kempton four weeks ago - he gets the nod in this.
West With The Wind 6-1 (11-11) Made all, jumped well, stayed on strongly, hard held, won at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gf in May beating Sew On Target (11-3) by 7l, 4 ran.
De Boitron (FR) 9-2 (10-6) Held up towards rear, headway before 5 out, went 4th before 4 out, challenged last, upsides winner run-in, held near finish, 2nd of 8, nk behind Lost Glory (10-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Garleton (IRE) 7-2 (10-9) Close up, led from 1st, ridden and headed 3 out, no extra in 3rd when hit last, lost 3rd place close home, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind Lost Glory (10-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Nedzer's Return (IRE) 4-5 (12-0) Chsd ldrs, 3rd from 6out, chall & ld bef 4out, 2l adv at last & alw gng best flat, so, won at Inchydoney 3m ire ptp in May beating Klassy (11-4) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Pigeon Island 15-2 (10-5) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, went 4th 3 out, ridden and one pace 2 out, kept on strongly run-in, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Lost Glory (10-9) at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Merrion Square (IRE) 9-2 (11-7) Tracked leaders, hit 5 out, challenged 3 out, every chance when left in narrow lead next, ridden and kept on flat, won at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May beating Representingceltic (10-1) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Buck Mulligan 9-2 (10-7) Took keen hold, chased leaders, went 2nd 10th, led next, ridden and headed 2 out, chased winner until approaching last where left 3rd, one pace flat, 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Gentleman Anshan (10-0) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in May.
Aneyeforaneye (IRE) 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, weakened before 4 out, 8th of 13, 32l behind Bocciani (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Problema Tic (FR) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 3rd, closed after next, ridden 6th, no impression before 2 out, 5th of 12, 12l behind Pure Faith (11-3) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake next, not fluent 10th, headway after 15th, no impression before 3 out, 9th of 14, 21l behind Lexicon Lad (10-11) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Wild Geese (IRE) 3-1 (11-8) Made all, ridden after 3 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May beating Bertie Milan (10-12) by 8l, 7 ran.
Simarian (IRE) 16-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, went 4th before 3 out, never dangerous, 4th of 8, well behind Big Time Billy (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Peachey Moment (USA) 17-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, headway 4 out, led before next, headed 2 out, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Brunswick Gold (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
