in touch, headway to chase leaders 4 out, ridden in 4th when mistake and unseated rider 3 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 4 out
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on to 4th flat
mid-division, blundered 4th, ridden 9th, behind 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
in touch, headway to chase leaders 10th, blundered and weakened 13th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, 7th and ridden when fell 2 out
chased leaders, under strong pressure in 5th when fell 3 out
behind, blundered 2nd, headway and stayed on from approaching 3 out, slightly hampered 3 out, went 2nd post, no chance with winner
in rear, fell 10th
mid-division, headway approaching 4 out, went 3rd before 3 out, led 2 out, clear soon after, stayed on strongly
took keen hold, in touch, mistake and badly hampered 13th, soon lost place, behind and pulled up 3 out
behind, ridden and struggling before 12th, blundered 14th, tailed off when hit 4 out, pulled up 2 out
chased leader, led before 3 out, went left 3 out, headed next, no chance with winner, lost 2nd post
prominenet until weakened 4 out, no chance when fell 2 out
raced wide in mid-division, lost place and towards rear 13th, pulled up before 3 out
led, ridden and headed before 3 out, chased leaders, weakened flat
not fluent 3rd (water), behind, tailed off and pulled up before 13th
A very decent handicap chase for the time of year and plenty with chances, though the bottom seven will all have to carry more than their allotted weight. Cottage Oak may prove the pick of Gordon Elliott's pair while Shoegazer is unexposed over fences and sports blinkers for his first venture into handicap company over the larger obstacles. Fairoak Lad won easily at Ludlow last month and, after finishing second to Sotovik here in April, Zitenka won a competitive contest at Market Rasen next time. Auroras Encore makes his first appearance since narrowly failing to hold off Merigo in the Scottish National but is 7lb higher now while this may be a bit too hot for Degas Art and Buck Mulligan is difficult to win with. MUMBLES HEAD was raised 11lb after beating General Hardi over C&D last month but is right at the top of his game and can complete the hat-trick with Cootehill best of the rest.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway to go 5th after 9th, led 21st, clear before 4 out, pressed last, headed towards finish, kept on gamely, just held, 2nd of 24, hd behind Merigo (10-2) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Zitenka (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Tracked leaders, hit 3rd and 9th, challenged approaching 3 out, led next, ridden clear from last, won at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in May beating Triolo D'Alene (11-0) by 8l, 15 ran.
Cootehill (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) In touch, ridden in 4th after 2 out, stayed on from last, went 3rd near finish, 3rd of 16, 7l behind Ostland (11-9) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in May.
Fairoak Lad (IRE) 11-2fav (11-4) Mid-division, headway 7th, led 3 out, clear next easily, won at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May beating Made In Time (11-7) by 14l, 15 ran.
Shoegazer (IRE) 1-3fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led from 3rd, clear before 3 out, stayed on strongly, won at Hexham 2m 7f nov chs (4) gd in May beating Yachvili (10-12) by 29l, 5 ran.
Buck Mulligan 17-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd 9th until after 2 out, weakened flat, 5th of 16, 8l behind Ostland (11-9) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in May.
Degas Art (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Made most, ridden after last, kept on, won at Perth 3m nov chs (4) sft in May beating Lord Redsgirth (11-5) by 1 3/4l, 3 ran.
Cottage Oak (IRE) 10-1 (10-13) Held up, mistake 12th, headway next, every chance last, stayed on, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Summery Justice (11-1) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-140 (3) sft in Apr.
Trendelenburg (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, not always fluent, ridden and weakened after 9th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Los Nadis (10-8) at Perth 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Sep, 9 ran.
Mumbles Head (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway from 5 out, led 2 out, stayed on well from last, won at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in May beating General Hardi (11-10) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Best Legend (IRE) 8-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, lost place before 4 out, ridden in 9th and no extra entering straight, kept on one pace, 8th of 18, 27l behind Prince Of Milan (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-123) (4yo+) gd in May.
Selection Box (IRE) 20-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, moderate 4th halfway, closer 3 out, ridden in 5th and no extra 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 15, 10l behind Any Bets (9-3) at Down Royal 2m 4f hcp chs gd in May.
The Hollinwell 10-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, tracked leaders from 3rd, challenged 13th, in 4th and weakening when blundered badly 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Mumbles Head (11-8) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in May, 12 ran.
Plunkett (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Held up, mistake 4 out, headway next, soon chased leader, ridden to lead flat, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in May beating That's The Deal (9-11) by 1l, 10 ran.
Dystonia's Revenge (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) In rear, soon struggling and tailed off, last of 7, well behind Harry Flashman (11-7) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in May.
Sotovik (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Led, headed after 1st, blundered 4th, went 2nd from 7th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Quite The Man (11-10) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in May, 8 ran.
Solway Bay 12-1 (11-8) Held up in rear, hit 5th, behind 13th, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Power Pack Jack (10-3) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Sep.
