held up in rear, slipped bend after 3rd, went 3rd 5th, slipped bend before 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, dropped to last 5th, mistake 10th, went 3rd when not fluent 3 out, mistake and no impression 2 out
chased winner, pushed along after 13th, mistake 3 out, no impression from 2 out
jumped well, made all, clear before last, pushed out flat
Ladronne won at Newcastle in March but is still 5lb higher. Easy Bucks hasn’t been beaten far in his last two runs but RAPID RAIDER looks the pick of Lucinda Russell’s two runners, ahead of Return Fire, and can record a fifth win over the larger obstacles.
Ladronne (FR) 5-2 (11-13) In touch in mid-division, not fluent 13th, ridden and no impression on winner 3 out, went 2nd flat, plugged on, 2nd of 8, 16l behind Wake Up Early (11-4) at Market Rasen 3m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Return Fire (IRE) 5-1 (11-3) Close up, pushed along 4 out, ridden and weakened 2 out, 8th of 11, 17 3/4l behind Goodtimes Badtimes (10-6) at Musselburgh 3m hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Rapid Raider (IRE) 85-40 (10-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 12th, pushed along before 14th, went 2nd when not fluent 14th, mistake 2 out, led flat, driven out, won at Kelso 3m 4f hcp (4) gd in May beating Ecossais (11-4) by 2l, 4 ran.
Easy Bucks 9-4 (11-10) Prominent, jumped right 3 out, ridden and strongly pressed leader after 2 out, every chance when hit last and blundered, kept on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Midnight Jewel (12-0) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (5) gd in Sep.
