midfield, pushed along 3 out, ridden and went third approaching 2 out, lost third last, plugged on one pace from last
towards rear, dropped to last and ridden after 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out
held up in rear, not fluent 4th, pulled up before 3 out
midfield, mistake 3 out, held when bad mistake next
disputed lead, headed 2nd, chased leaders, pushed along to go second approaching 2 out, ridden to challenge and edged left flat, ran on to lead final 110yds
mid-division, headway into midfield before 3 out, nudged along before next, plugged on one pace
midfield, not fluent 8th, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, stayed on to go third last
disputed lead, headed after 2nd, pushed along after 3 out, soon weakened, refused 2 out
prominent, led after 2nd, pushed along before 2 out, ridden after last, headed final 110yds, kept on
never better than mid-division
chased leaders, went second briefly after 3 out, soon ridden, weakening when not fluent 2 out
Charles Byrnes is a pretty rare visitor to these shores and the hint is taken with GROZNI (NAP), seeking a third win from his last four starts. Partnered to both handicap hurdle successes by today's pilot, he looks the one to beat despite his double penalty. Heaven Smart didn't shape too badly on hurdling bow for Gary Moore and also boasts a reasonable level of pointing form without getting his head in front. Scamallach Liath has a first start under Rules for Oliver Sherwood and rates an interesting recruit on the back of a soft-ground success in an Irish point when last seen in April. The market should prove a helpful indicator to his chance. Northern Poet and Promising Milan have both shown ability in the past but return from lengthy absences of over 600 and 700 days respectively.
Grozni (FR) 16-5fav (10-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, mistake 2nd, slight mistake 3rd, headway to lead after 3 out, clear entering straight, ridden and stayed on well run-in, won at Punchestown 2m 7f hcp gd in Oct beating Coventry (11-10) by 2 1/4l, 13 ran.
Claude Almighty (FR) 150-1 (11-4) Not always fluent in rear, hampered 2nd, well beaten from 6th, 9th of 12, 28 1/2l behind Coldstream (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Sep.
El Paco 28-1 (8-5) In touch, wide and headway to track leaders 5f out, pushed along and weakened over 1f out, 10th of 11, 25 3/4l behind Flying Standard (9-3) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (6) gf in Apr.
Heaven Smart (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Mid-division, tracked leaders 4th, chased winner 3 out, ridden and held before 2 out, stayed on, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 16l behind Scarface (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
Northern Poet (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Midfield, blundered 4th, pressed leader 3 out, driven before last, kept on but no chance with winner flat, 2nd of 7, 13l behind Blame The Game (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) gs in Feb.
Promising Milan (IRE) 80-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, weakened after normal 2 out, 7th of 8, 32l behind Make Good (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Dec.
Scamallach Liath (IRE) 6-1 (12-2) Ld, sl adv from 5th, 1l adv 3out, hdd aftr 2out, ld agn bef last, ko best, won at Curraghmore 3m mdn sft in Apr beating Notnowned (11-11) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Smith (IRE) 40-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, not fluent at times, dropped to rear 8th, bad mistake 4 out and pulled up, at Plumpton 2m 5f (4) gd in Oct.
Tea And Chats (IRE) 3-1 (12-2) Mid-div, 7th 1/2way, rdn aftr 3out, sn wknd to rr, ko bhnd, 7th of 11, 36 1/2l behind Captains Road (12-2) at Punchestown 3m mdn Yielding in May.
Wang Dang Doodle 40-1 (11-4) Towards rear, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace soon after, 6th of 9, dist behind Teddy Blue (11-4) at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn (4) sft in Nov.
Belgarum (IRE) 17-2 (10-8) Towards rear, ridden entering home straight, soon outpaced, 6th of 8, 24l behind Sonification (10-8) at Chepstow 2m (5) gd in Apr.
Titanium Bullet (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Handy, pushed along well over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 13 3/4l behind Lump Sum (11-1) at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Oct.
