held up in touch, led 4 out, ridden after last, kept on and headed close home
in rear, headway before 9th, hit 5 out, went 2nd before 3 out, not fluent 2 out and last, ridden run-in, kept on to lead close home
towards rear, fell 5 out
with leaders, quickly lost place and in rear 9th, weakened before 3 out
made most until 4 out, one pace in 3rd from 3 out
with leaders, in 4th and weakened from 3 out
Both of Emral Silk's hurdle wins came at Catterick and it remains to be seen how he copes here with these tricky fences. Verano, who won at Uttoxeter in March, also makes his chasing debut and may be better on softer ground over 2m. Abigail Lynch is another having her first start over the larger obstacles, though the mare did win a point-to-point in 2012. GRAY HESSION (NAP) made a winning start for Jonjo O'Neill at Bangor and could be the type to go on to better things being only lightly raced. Owen Na View has plenty of experience but is still 13lb higher than when winning at Newbury in March.
Owen Na View (IRE) 4-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, hung right flat, stayed on same pace, 4th of 7, 8l behind Mountain King (11-9) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in Apr.
Gray Hession (IRE) 17-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 6 out, led 2 out, clear last, easily, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr beating Bearly Legal (11-8) by 10l, 7 ran.
Emral Silk 3-1fav (10-5) Tracked leaders on outside, hampered 3rd, lost place 5th, soon outpaced, chased leaders when mistake 3 out, rallied before last, ridden to lead briefly flat, held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Avidity (10-2) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Mar.
Abigail Lynch (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, ridden and lost place after 2 out, weakened before last, 7th of 8, 34l behind Stephanie Frances (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f mares listed nov hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Verano (GER) 3-1 (11-12) Led, headed 2 out, soon ridden, one pace last, kept on, 3rd and held flat, 3rd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Very Noble (10-13) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Figaro 10-1 (10-11) Tracked winner to 4th, regained 2nd 4 out, weakened from 3 out, last of 6, well behind Brave Spartacus (10-11) at Newcastle 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in Mar.