held up in mid-division, headway 8th, weakened after 14th, pulled up before 2 out
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, lost place before 9th, pushed along to close 13th, weakened before 3 out
jumped right, led after 1st, headed when mistake 11th, struggling 13th, pulled up before 14th
held up in rear, not much room after 8th, headway 12th, chased winner after 14th, driven and every chance last, held flat
jumped right, led until after 1st, prominent, struggling 12th, pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, hampered 1st, went 2nd 7th until after 14th, no extra in 3rd from 3 out
chased leaders, bad mistake 11th and rider lost both irons briefly, weakened from 14th
held up towards rear, headway 9th, led 11th, not fluent 2 out, ridden before last, stayed on well flat
in rear, mistake 2nd, well beaten from 13th
towards rear, not much room 1st, behind from 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
NonRunner
The majority of these have seen better days and some are returning from lengthy lay-offs. Bletchley Castle falls into the latter category and, like Ami Desbois and Tanit River, isn’t getting any younger. Caryto Des Brosses is having a first run since April last year but has yet to finish out of the first two in four runs under Rules. DIEU VIVANT won this last year in a hack canter. He chased home the useful Secret Investor back in a hunter chase at Bangor last month so a repeat may be on the cards. Dickie Diver was a smart hurdler when trained by Nicky Henderson and was fourth at the Cheltenham Festival two years ago but pulled up on his only start between the flags so far. Drop Flight may be best of the rest.
Rock On Rocco (IRE) 1-2fav (12-0) (xnb) 4/6-1/2; made all; drew 8l clr last; stayed on flat, won at Higham 3m gf in Feb beating Soldier At War (12-0) by 4l, 4 ran.
Ami Desbois (FR) 3-1 (12-0) (tt) chsd wnr to 13; wknd 15; wl bhnd when pu 2 out, at Chaddesley Corbett 3m gs in Dec.
Bletchley Castle (IRE) 3-1 (12-2) Led, set strong pace and soon clear, went right 4th, reached for 5th and reduced lead, headed and hit 15th, no chance with winner before next, kept on for remote 2nd, 2nd of 3, dist behind Solomon Grey (11-12) at Ludlow 3m (4) gd in Apr.
Dieu Vivant (FR) 15-2 (12-2) Held up in touch in rear, not fluent 10th, headway 13th, chased winner 2 out, switched left after last, held but stayed on, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Secret Investor (12-6) at Bangor-on-Dee 3m (4) gs in Feb.
Tanit River (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Jumped right 1st and 2nd, led, mistake 5th, jumped right throughout second circuit, ridden along in lead before 3 out, jumped well 2 out, still in control last, all out final 50 yards, won at Southwell 3m (6) gs in May beating Cat Tiger (12-6) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Zee Man (FR) 125-1 (12-2) Towards rear, jumped left at times, not fluent 4th, remote 6th 9th, no impression, 6th of 11, dist behind Bennys King (11-12) at Hereford 2m 5f (5) sft in Jan.
Arthur's Sixpence 5-1 (12-0) Held up in rear, closed on outside 10th, slow next, challenged 2 out, every chance last, switched left flat, not pace of winner, 2nd of 5, 4 1/2l behind Twig (12-4) at Worcester 2m 7f (6) gd in May.
Caryto Des Brosses (FR) 6-4fav (12-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 7th, led 15th, went 5 lengths ahead 3 out, reduced lead next, joined last, headed and not pace of winner run-in, 2nd of 11, 6 1/2l behind Dandy Dan (12-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (4) gd in Apr.
Dickie Diver (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Prom til wknd 13; wl bhnd when pu 3 out, at Horseheath 3m in Dec.
Ofalltheginjoints (IRE) 25-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led before 5th until next, lost 2nd at 7th, chased leaders, tailed off 11th, pulled up before 4 out, at Ffos Las 2m 5f (4) gs in Feb.
Drop Flight (FR) 7-2 (12-6) Chased leaders, pushed along in 4th after 5 out, went 3rd on inside before next, went 2nd and hit 3 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Envoye Special (12-2) at Ffos Las 2m 5f (4) gs in Feb.
