led until before 7th, led 11th, headed after 4 out, weakened next
held up in rear, jumped right into rival 1st, not fluent 4th, headway after 8th, switched right 4 out, led 3 out, hit 2 out, soon ridden, headed before bad mistake last, not recover
held up in rear, bumped 1st, struggling 11th
in touch, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leader until 4th, ridden 10th, weakened after 4 out, left 3rd last
held up towards rear, headway 12th, disputing 2 lengths 2nd when left well clear last
in touch, hit 4th and lost place, behind 11th
tracked leaders, challenged 4th, led before 7th, headed 11th, led after 4 out, headed next, led again and 2 lengths ahead when fell last
Lucky Jim finished a couple of lengths ahead of VALSEUR DU GRANVAL at Kempton last time and is only a pound worse off. But Tom George's charge would probably have justified favouritism that day but for a couple of appalling jumping errors and can take his revenge here with a clear round. Denali Highway is an interesting runner as he's thrown in on his best form and Caroline Bailey's chasers are also worth a market check here. Town Mouse and Drumlang have their sights lowered and Queen Spud is getting closer but Strongly Suggested and Pinerolo remain out of sorts.
Town Mouse 11-2 (11-5) Led to 2nd, tracked leader, weakened before 5 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Valseur Du Granval (FR) Evensfav (11-5) Hit 1st, held up and behind, steady headway into 5th at 7th, 3rd before 3 out, went 2nd and blundered 2 out, soon ridden and not recover, well held when lost two places final 100 yards, 4th of 7, 3 1/4l behind Keppel Isle (10-0) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.
Drumlang (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Tracking leaders when hit 4th and fell, at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in May.
Lucky Jim 7-2 (11-7) Chased leaders, pushed along before 4 out, outpaced 2 out, rallied into 2nd final 100 yards and kept on, always held, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Keppel Isle (10-0) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.
Denali Highway (IRE) 3-1 (11-5) Led until after 4 out, stayed on one pace from next, no impression on leading pair, 4th of 6, 9 3/4l behind Thoonavolla (10-0) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Strongly Suggested 14-1 (11-6) In rear, struggling when blundered 12th, behind next, 8th of 16, dist behind Long Lunch (11-12) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May.
Pinerolo 15-2 (11-12) Tracked leader, led before 9th, headed 12th, weakened from 15th, pulled up before 2 out, at Hexham 3m hcp (4) gd in May.
Queen Spud 10-1 (10-11) Tracked leaders, effort to challenge on inside 3 out, 4 lengths down in 2nd and one pace next, soon ridden, kept on closing stages, always held, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Doitforthevillage (10-11) at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in May.
