chased leader until 7th, weakened 9th, tailed off
in touch, raced keenly, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, hit 6th, went second next, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, mistake last, eased towards finish
set modest pace, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened 2 out
held up, not fluent 9th, went modest 4th after 3 out, went 3rd last, never nearer
held up, raced keenly, mistake 5th, headway approaching 9th, weakened 3 out
held up, jumped right 3rd, weakened 9th, tailed off
ran novice like, always behind, lost touch after 8th, tailed off
David Pipe's STAR OF ANGELS has been expensive to follow since being put over hurdles but the five-year-old is the clear form pick of the eight runners in the finale judged by his fourth in the Coral Cup and he is impossible to oppose with the battle for the forecast likely to be between Squinch and Casual Garcia. Nick Gifford's gelding has the advantage of being fit having been running on the Flat prior to his return to hurdles when a fair fourth behind Stopped Out at Huntingdon recently. Son Of Flame is less exposed than most of these after just one start but he was well beaten in that outing in a Chepstow bumper, while Czech import Sazeilla did not make the grade in his own country and is unlikely to do so here. Squinch has shown promise in both starts in bumpers for Nigel Twiston-Davies and has to be considered on his hurdling debut but Star Of Angels has an obvious chance and is the one they all have to beat.
Iveragh Lad (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Always rear, lost touch 4 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Mad Max (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nov hdl (4) sft in Jan, 16 ran.
Squinch 12-1 (11-2) Led to halfway, weakened 3f out, 7th of 11, 22l behind Bellvano (11-6) at Newbury 2m NH flat (5) gd in Feb.
Star Of Angels 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened last, 8th of 21, 21l behind Time For Rupert (10-10) at Aintree 3m Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Star Of Memory (FR) 50-1 (10-11) Mid-division, weakened after 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Love of Tara (10-4) at Exeter 2m 7f am nov hdl (4) gd, 14 ran.
Casual Garcia 9-1 (10-12) Jumped slowly 1st, soon pressing leader, led 3rd to 4th, not fluent 6th, hanging and weakened after 3 out, 4th of 5, 20l behind Stopped Out (10-12) at Huntingdon 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Son Of Flame 25-1 (10-11) Held up in mid-division, hung left and weakened over 2f out, 7th of 10, 33l behind Cavingdon (11-0) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd.
Mrs Onc 33-1 (10-7) Led until over 9f out, soon weakened, tailed off, last of 8, well behind Pro Pell (11-0) at Plumpton 2m 2f mdn NH flat (6) gf.
Sazeilla (CZE) Mill Pond filly out of Saze.
