always prominent, led 2 out, drew clear last, ran on well (3 fences omitted)
held up in rear, headway on outside after 7th, chased leaders 5 out, mistake next, weakening when hampered 2 out
behind, smooth headway 5 out, chasing leaders when fell 2 out
led, soon joined, mistake when headed 2 out, weakened before last
mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, 2nd approaching 2 out, kept on well, not pace of winner
mid-division, progress to chase leaders 4th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on well approaching last, never a threat
held up towards rear, jumped left 2nd, under pressure 8th, soon beaten
chased leaders, lost place 4th, soon towards rear, no danger after
tracked leaders, outpaced 3 out, rallied before last, stayed on strongly closing stages, never able to challenge
Sooner or later the winners are surely going to flow for the O'Neill team so let's hope STATE THE OBVIOUS can get things moving along for the Gloucestershire operation. He's shown decent handicap form and has clearly been kept back awaiting quicker ground. Arguably unlucky not to have landed more than a single success over timber, he seems fairly treated for this chasing bow. Viva Rafa shaped promisingly on his chasing debut at Hereford behind One Style, experience which will stand him in good stead here and he rates a leading contender on that evidence. Phoebus Lescribaa has shown enough to be of interest for a yard in fine form and Minella For Me completes the shortlist as he makes his return to the track following wind surgery. The latter has more experience than most here over the larger obstacles.
Minella For Me (IRE) 7-2jfav (10-11) Jumped left, led not fluent 2 out, headed last, hung right and weakened, 6th of 9, 8 1/2l behind Clondaw Westie (10-13) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
State The Obvious (IRE) 6-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, challenged on inside 3 out, every chance next, one pace and no impression before last, 3rd of 15, 10 1/4l behind Cougar Kid (11-0) at Hereford 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Nov.
Viva Rafa (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Held up in last, mistake 4th, closer at 10th, 2nd at 12th, about 2 lengths down when blundered and went left 2 out, no chance after, kept on same pace, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind One Style (11-12) at Hereford 2m 5f hcp (4) hvy in Apr.
Phoebus Lescribaa (FR) 4-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, not fluent, lost place 4th, closed 2 out, went 3rd before last, no impression on winner, 3rd of 10, 10 1/4l behind Zamparelli (11-6) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (4) gs in Apr.
Overtoujay 12-1 (11-5) Held up behind, blundered 8th, some headway under pressure 3 out, never near leaders, weakened next, tailed off, 9th of 11, dist behind Premier Rose (10-9) at Southwell 3m hcp (5) gd in Aug.
Dalkadam (FR) 5-1 (10-11) Mid-division, pushed along after 5 out, soon outpaced, plugged on and no impression, 5th of 9, 10 3/4l behind Doktor Glaz (11-11) at Doncaster 2m 3f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Presenting Berkley (IRE) 22-1 (10-12) Always well behind, pulled up before 4 out, at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Grow Nasa Grow (IRE) 7-2 (10-1) Tracked leaders, blundered 5th, lost place 7th, weakened after 9th, 5th of 6, 17l behind Minella Voucher (10-9) at Southwell 2m hcp (4) sft in Mar.
King Golan (IRE) 15-2 (10-3) Tracked leaders, led after 7th, headed before 8th, weakened from 4 out, 3rd of 8, dist behind Middlebrow (11-13) at Catterick 2m 3f hcp (5) gs in Nov.
