chased leaders out wide, led 2 out, 2 lengths ahead last, shaken up and kept on well run-in, bit in hand and always doing enough
led until narrowly headed 5th, chased leaders, led again narrowly 4 out, pushed along and headed next, lost 2nd at the last, kept on same pace run-in
raced on inside, hit 1st, tracked leader, led 7th, narrowly headed 4 out, pushed along and lost 2nd before next, weakened quickly soon after
held up in close 5th, hit 8th, closer tracking leaders before 3 out, went 2nd last, hung left and kept on run-in, always held
held up in rear, good headway tracking leaders approaching 3 out, pushed along disputing 3rd briefly before next, weakened between last 2
chased leaders, led 5th until 7th, chased leader until approaching 4 out, weakened quickly soon after, tailed off
NonRunner
Most of these are returning after long breaks with Amour de Nuit not seen since beaten 17 lengths in a three-runner race at Fontwell in February last year. Vive Le Roi has generally raced in better company and finished runner-up in a Kempton Listed contest in January. Tony Carroll will have him fit enough and he's rated a threat. Buckhorn George landed a Wincanton maiden by a short-head in March and makes his handicap debut. Little Rory Mac, an easy winner of a Kelso novices' hurdle in March, also won a Market Rasen handicap in December but this can go to LANGER DAN. who started out a year ago with a double including a Wetherby Listed contest and finished a close sixth in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham. Gunnery has disappointed since an easy victory in a Doncaster handicap in December.
Amour de Nuit (IRE) 5-2 (11-6) Jumped right at times, tracked leading pair, jumped slowly 2nd, went 2nd 4 out, pushed along before hit next, no chance from next, 2nd of 3, 17l behind Whatswrongwithyou (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f (3) gs in Feb.
Vive Le Roi (IRE) 10-1 (11-11) Led until pushed along and headed before 3 out, weakened before next, 5th of 9, 25 1/4l behind One For The Team (11-4) at Newbury 3m hcp (2) gd in Feb.
Langer Dan (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Towards rear of mid-division, closer 4 out, headway chasing leaders before 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 12, 13 3/4l behind Thyme White (11-1) at Chepstow 2m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Buckhorn George 10-1 (11-2) Chased leader, wandered approaching 3rd, led after 3 out, clear next, ran green in front and headed 100 yards out, rallied gamely under pressure to lead again towards finish, won at Wincanton 2m 4f mdn (5) sft in Mar beating Mickey Buckman (11-2) by shd, 12 ran.
Little Rory Mac (IRE) 4-6fav (11-0) Raced keenly tracking leader, led 3rd hit 5th, headed approaching 4 out, in front again after next, hit last, ridden clear, won at Kelso 2m (4) hvy in Mar beating Baboin (11-6) by 5l, 9 ran.
Oscarsman (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) Led briefly 1st, prominent, jumped right 5th, led before 7th, headed before 2 out, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Gunnery (FR) 4-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, went 2nd before 3rd, ridden and lost place after 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 9, 28 1/2l behind Highly Prized (11-1) at Southwell 2m hcp (2) gd in Jul.
