in touch, ridden in 4th after 2 out, stayed on from last, went 3rd near finish
chased leaders, pushed along 8th, weakened before 3 out
jumped well, made all, stayed on well from last
chased leaders, weakened 2 out
mid-division, towards rear when went right 5th, blundered 6th and 9th, tailed off next
chased leaders, went 2nd 9th until after 2 out, weakened flat
mistake 7th, always towards rear, tailed off
always behind, never involved, tailed off
held up towards rear, steady headway after 10th, chased leaders 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, one pace last
always towards rear, never involved, tailed off
chased winner until 9th, weakened quickly next, behind and pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, lost place and towards rear 8th, struggling next, tailed off
in touch, pushed along after 8th, soon lost place, tailed off
always behind, never involved, tailed off
not fluent 3rd, always towards rear, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, hung left approaching last, stayed on flat, nearest finish
A host of summer jumping specialists are on show here including Ostland, Buck Mulligan, Life Of A Luso and Lord Ryeford. Cootehill improved again to score at Ludlow last month, while Marley Roca was successful over C&D four weeks ago following a lay-off and can't be discounted. That'Ll Do has won two of his last three but Cruchain was a lucky winner at Cheltenham and this is much more competitive. DEE EE WILLIAMS has only managed one win in six starts over fences but ran a cracking race over hurdles at Aintree last time and could be thrown in here on his best form. He gets the nod though Owen Glendower is better than he showed when favourite at Haydock last month.
Cootehill (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, steady headway to go in touch in chasing group after 8th, 3rd after 12th, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, driven out, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Apr beating Cadoudalas (11-11) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Owen Glendower (IRE) 10-3fav (11-5) Prominent, led 9th until next, close 4th when bad mistake 2 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Auroras Encore (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Ostland (GER) 16-1 (11-12) Led, headed before 4 out, soon weakened and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Problema Tic (11-11) at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Trooper Clarence 9-1 (11-8) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, led 2nd, jumped left next, headed 7th, not fluent next, ridden and jumped left last 3 fences, no impression from 2 out, weakened last, 4th of 7, 24l behind Oceana Gold (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Song Sung Blue (IRE) 18-1 (10-6) Mid-division, jumped right from 7th, soon struggling, behind from 4 out, 8th of 13, 37l behind Edgardo Sol (11-0) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Buck Mulligan 11-2 (10-11) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, closed 3 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, stayed on, always behind held by winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Billie Magern (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gf in Oct.
You're The Top (FR) 16-1 (11-2) In touch, tracked leaders in 6th when fell 4 out, in a race won by Holmwood Legend (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar '11, 20 ran.
Dee Ee Williams (IRE) 15-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3 out, ridden before 2 out, no extra run-in, 5th of 21, 4 1/2l behind Lifestyle (11-2) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
That'll Do 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked clear leader, close up 4th, joined leader on bit 3 out, led before next, soon clear, very easily, won at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr beating Bold Perk (10-12) by 21l, 3 ran.
Marley Roca (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Chased leading pair, hit 9th, went 2nd 3 out, led next, soon clear easily, won at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr beating Mud Monkey (9-10) by 11l, 7 ran.
Old Wigmore (IRE) 6-4fav (11-5) Chased winner until 5th, remained in close 3rd, ridden 13th, weakened before next, tailed off, last of 5, 44l behind Rhum (10-12) at Ffos Las 3m nov chs (4) gd in Apr.
Intac (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Led until after 1st, stayed handy, ridden after 9th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 7, 30l behind Oceana Gold (11-11) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Held up in rear, headway 8th, reminder next, tracked leading pair 2 out, chased leader well before last, stayed on under pressure to lead close home, won at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Oct beating Pickamus (11-12) by 1l, 8 ran.
Life Of A Luso (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Last when hampered 3rd, not fluent and always behind, pulled up before 13th, in a race won by Salut Flo (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar, 22 ran.
Cruchain (IRE) 9-2 (11-10) Led 2nd, soon headed, hit 5th, led next, headed 8th, hit 9th and ridden, left 2nd when hampered 4 out, soon well adrift of leader, 10 lengths down when left alone last, won at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp chs (0-135) (3) sft in Apr, 5 ran.
Gentleman Anshan (IRE) 4-1fav (10-13) Held up on outside, took keen hold, mistake 8th, headway after 13th, went 3rd 3 out, soon outpaced by fron pair, weakened approaching last, demoted to 4th close home, 4th of 8, 21l behind Wessex King (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.