chased leader, pushed along along before 2 out, led approaching last, drew clear, stayed on well
raced keenly, jumped slightly right, led, clear after 2nd until mistake 6th, not fluent 3 out, headed before not fluent last, no extra flat
chased leaders, pushed along after 3 out, switched left before 2 out, no extra approaching last
not always fluent, raced in last, well behind from 5th
Point winner Imperial Hope bids to remain unbeaten now hurdling for the first time having won a bumper at Doncaster. But GLENCASSLEY also makes his hurdling bow having won a bumper at Wetherby earlier and the latter gets the vote with Brian Hughes’ taking over the reins. Methusalar and Train Hill were both well beaten over timber last time and it remains to be seen how Titaneasy fares fitted with a hood for this.
Glencassley (IRE) 80-1 (11-4) Mid-division on outside, headway end of back straight, ridden and close up entering home straight, weakened 2f out, 6th of 18, 20 3/4l behind Knappers Hill (11-4) at Aintree 2m 1f (1) gs in Apr.
Imperial Hope (IRE) 3-1 (11-2) Keen in midfield, pulled into lead with a circuit to run, ridden over 2f out, ran on strongly under pressure final furlong, won at Doncaster 2m 1f (5) gd in Mar beating Toutatis (10-9) by 2l, 9 ran.
Methusalar (IRE) 22-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden along before 2 out, plugged on one pace from 2 out, 4th of 10, 29 3/4l behind Glory And Honour (11-8) at Huntingdon 2m mdn (4) gd in Nov.
Titaneasy 12-1 (11-4) Sweating, led until pushed along and headed turning in, weakened quickly, 6th of 9, 28 1/2l behind Shallwehaveonemore (10-11) at Kempton 2m mdn (5) gd in Mar.
Train Hill (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) In rear, some headway before 4 out, pushed after 3 out, never able to challenge, 8th of 11, dist behind Sayadam (10-12) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) sft in May.
