in touch, led briefly 8th, weakened quickly
in touch when fell 5th
mid-division lost place 5th, weakened 6th, pulled up before 2 out
mistake 1st, unseated rider 2nd
held up, ridden and headway 8th, soon weakened and pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 9th, led approaching 2 out hit last and pushed clear
soon led, headed jumped right 8th, weakened and pulled up before 2 out
always in rear, lost touch from 9th, pulled up before 3 out
with leader, weakened 8th, mistake next, behind when fell last
towards rear, plugged on, never dangerous
towards rear, stayed on moderately, and went wide on bend approached 2 out
tracked leaders, led after 8th, headed 2 out and weakened, very tired when fell last
mid-division, jumped right 6th, headway 8th, chased winner 2 out, always held
Forest Green can complete a hat-trick at the expense of Lord Henry, Sunley Shines, Salinas and Smoke Trail. Another open contest should at least see Forest Green make a bold bid to keep up his winning run, having gained back-to-back successes at Fontwell and Newton Abbot since going over fences. He has taken to the bigger obstacles like a duck to water, and although having to shoulder a 7lb penalty here, lines up at the top of his game. He will be suited by the likely strong pace set by Lord Henry whose only recent defeat came behind Pedrobob in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. He has since bounced back to score over fences at Ascot, but is not certain to confirm that form over the third Smoke Trail on today's terms. Sunley Shines has a light enough weight on her handicap debut, and makes more appeal than Salinas who does not win too often. Marcel has the class but is a hard horse to get right, and so for the winner we return to Forest Green.
Marcel (FR) 13-2 (11-12) Tracked winner until not fluent 8th, soon outpaced, 4th of 5, 26l behind Locksmith (11-7) at Kelso 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf.
Lord Henry (IRE) 6-4 (11-6) Made all, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m 1f nov chs (3) gd in Mar beating Royal Shakespeare (11-10) by 7l, 5 ran.
Duke of Buckingham (IRE) 11-2 (11-8) Towards rear, blundered badly 11th, ridden after 4 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Ball O Malt (10-11) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gf in Jul.
Allumee 9-2fav (11-5) Mid-division, blundered 3rd, mistake 4th, lost place, behind when pulled up before 7th pulled up at the 7th in race won by Glengarra (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
Forest Green (FR) 15-8fav (11-5) Chased clear leader, steadily closed on leader from 7th, led approaching 2 out, kept on well, pushed out, won at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf beating Cheeky Lad (11-5) by 10l, 6 ran.
Smoke Trail (IRE) 2-1fav (11-1) Prominent, chased leaders 6th, led 7th, driven clear approaching last, pushed out flat, comfortably, won at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) frm in Apr beating Wages (11-1) by 4l, 7 ran.
Sunley Shines 13-8fav (10-8) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed and mistake 8th, ridden 4 out, hit 3 out, carried left and mistake last, led soon after, kept on, won at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) gf in Apr beating King Diamond (11-0) by 2l, 8 ran.
Salinas (GER) 15-2 (10-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led 4 out, driven out, won at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs beating Kety Star (10-9) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
