led, headed 3rd, stayed handy, not fluent 12th, ridden and pressing for 2nd 2 out, 3rd before last, stayed on but no impression on front pair
prominent, led before 7th, headed 8th, led 11th until 12th, led after 14th, headed 3 out, soon weakened
held up in rear, headway after 14th, went 2nd 2 out, driven to challenge from last, every chance until just held close home
prominent, led 3rd until before 7th, led 8th, headed 11th, led 12th until 14th, weakened before 2 out
mostly chased leaders, effort from 4 out and every chance 3 out, 4th and no extra approaching last
held up in touch, challenged 13th, led next, soon headed, led again 3 out, driven and pressed when moved head towards challenger flat, pulled out extra and in command close home
not always fluent in rear, mistake 10th, ridden 13th, in touch at back of group 3 out, outpaced and no impression before next
in touch on outside, mistake and lost place 14th, weakened after 3 out
Sound Investment tries 2m4f for the first time over fences but his trainer also runs the less-exposed Vesperal Dream. Massena is better over fences but untried over this trip and takes a keen hold. Foundation Man has gone up 7lb since just beaten at Wetherby but has McCoy doing the steering so goes on the short-list along with Market Rasen runner-up Hatters River and the consistent Kitegen. BALLINCURRIG was all out to complete a double at Stratford earlier this month but appears to have got his act together now and may well be capable of finding the necessary to defy a further 6lb rise in the weights.
Sound Investment (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, lost place 7th, soon in rear, 13th of 16, 44l behind Parsnip Pete (10-10) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd.
Massena (IRE) 3-1 (11-12) Several slow jumps, led until 1st, chased leaders, pushed along after 9th, driven 4 out, no impression, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 5, 6l behind Kie (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Christopher Wren (USA) 40-1 (9-9) Always in rear, lost touch and pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Ballynagour (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 23 ran.
Foundation Man (IRE) 5-4fav (11-12) Led, ridden before 4 out, blundered last, kept on and headed close home, 2nd of 7, nk behind My Idea (10-8) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
Kitegen (IRE) 4-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, dropped to rear after 4th, in touch 6th, driven to chase leading pair before 4 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take moderate 2nd at last, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 13l behind Witness In Court (11-7) at Haydock 2m (3) gd.
Ballincurrig (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Led briefly 2nd, soon steadied in touch, headway 10th, chased leaders 2 out, went 2nd approaching and hit last, rallied under pressure to lead final 100 yards, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd beating Wings Of Smoke (11-8) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
De Blacksmith (IRE) 6-4fav (11-4) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Suerte Al Salto (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs.
Vesperal Dream (FR) 7-1 (10-11) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, went 3rd after 3 out, 2nd approaching 2 out, ridden one pace and no impression run-in, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Garde La Victoire (11-12) at Taunton 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Grandads Horse 7-1 (11-2) Sometimes jumped right, led, hit 5th and 10th, headed 4 out, weakened before next, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Pepite Rose (11-12) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Mar.
Hatters River (IRE) 5-2fav (11-9) Led, blundered 3rd, pressed from 3 out, blundered badly last, soon headed, no extra, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Highbury High (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gs in Mar.
