always prominent, hampered 5th, led 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well
cajoled along start, jumped left and baulked 1st, hampered next and reminders, towards rear after, ridden 4 out, switched left after last, stayed on, went 3rd close home
mid-division, headway 4th, outpaced after 4 out, no impression after
led, not fluent 11th, headed 2 out, lost 3rd close home
chased leaders, lost place when slow 4th, closed on outside 6th, struggling after 14th, well beaten from 4 out
mid-division, hampered 1st, jumped right and baulked 2nd, headway after 11th, struggling before 3 out, pulled up before last
chased leaders on inside, 5th and one pace 3 out, no impression, weakened next
in rear, not fluent 7th, mistake next, headway 14th, weakened from 3 out, mistake 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 13th, not fluent 4 out, went 2nd flat, no impression on winner
held up in rear, not fluent 9th, fell 12th
mid-division, closed after 3rd, not fluent 10th, 4th and beaten 2 out
Tom George has won this three times in the last seven years and has an excellent strike rate at this meeting. BRANDON HILL is back over his best trip and has had wind surgery since a disappointing effort over 2m4f at Kempton. An habitual front-runner, his rider takes off a handy 7lb and he’ll take some catching if allowed an easy lead. Nicky Richards had several entries at the four-day stage and relies on Chidswell, who usually makes the frame. Allysson Monterg still has scope over fences and is not without a chance while veteran Jet Master is seeking a fourth course win. Uhlan Bute took advantage of a tumbling mark at Ludlow earlier this month but has gone back up 9lb.
Allysson Monterg (FR) 9-4 (11-8) Led, mistake 9th, headed 4 out, soon driven, weakened 2 out, 3rd of 4, 11 1/4l behind Ballyarthur (10-9) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (3) hvy in Apr.
Seldom Inn 8-1 (10-13) In rear, mistake 1st, pushed along before 8 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 35 1/2l behind Smooth Stepper (10-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Apr.
Charmix (FR) 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 3rd place, reminders and in rear before 4 out, soon weakened, fell 2 out, at Kelso 2m 7f (2) hvy in Feb.
Brandon Hill (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Led until 4 out, lost 2nd and weakened before next, last of 10, dist behind Cepage (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Ballyben (IRE) 40-1 (11-5) With leaders, weakened from 4 out, 7th of 13, dist behind Buckle Street (11-9) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Chidswell (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, blundered 5 out, soon outpaced, plugged on, went 3rd from last, 3rd of 9, 26l behind Calipto (11-11) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Samstown 40-1 (10-6) Led, headed before 7 out, weakened from 5 out, pulled up, at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) hvy in Apr.
Belmount (IRE) 22-1 (11-9) Towards rear on outside, headway 15th, hampered 17th, well beaten after, pulled up before 4 out, at Haydock 3m 3f hcp (2) hvy in Dec.
As De Pique (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) In rear, some headway but no impression approaching 3 out, moderate 6th approaching straight, kept on same pace without threatening, 4th of 9, 31 1/4l behind Oscar Lantern (10-11) at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp hvy in Jan.
Jet Master (IRE) 18-1 (11-1) Held up last, good headway on outside chasing leaders 4 out, 3rd next, ridden and one pace between last 2, 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Un Guet Apens (10-13) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) sft in Jan.
Uhlan Bute (FR) 10-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway before 4 out, led before last, kept on well, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr beating Dauphine Ereine (11-2) by 6l, 8 ran.
