chased leaders, bad mistake and dropped to last 3rd, headway when blundered 12th, blundered badly and weakened 3 out, mistake and unseated rider last
tracked leaders, 4th and one pace on bend before last, rallied approaching fence, kept on flat, went 2nd close home
held up, in rear from 14th
in touch, went 2nd 7th, led 9th, headed after 3 out, weakened from next
tracked leaders, ridden after 14th, went 2nd before last, led flat, stayed on
tracked leaders, closed 13th, led after 3 out, headed flat, lost 2nd close home
held up in rear, mistake 6th, plugged on from 3 out, never any chance
held up on outside, mistake 10th, not fluent 14th, ridden 16th, blundered badly 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
in touch, closed 12th, every chance 2 out, no extra last
held up, hit 14th, headway 16th, 7th when pulled up before 3 out
led until 9th, weakened before 16th
PALYPSO DE CREEK was turned over at a heavy shade of odds on by Cottage Oak between the flags at Wheatland but he's shown plenty of ability in races of this nature, and on a much softer surface, he can bounce back to form. That said, the winner had been third in the 2013 Foxhunters and is clearly holding his form. Universal Soldier was an emphatic winner at Cheltenham in April and were he to turn up in the same form, Gareth Moore's nine-year-old has to be viewed as a big player. Saveiro has won four Ladies Opens this season and was the recipient of a brilliant Bridget Andrews ride at Peper Harrow. Lauberhorn may have been moderate under Rules though he's found his niche in Ladies Opens and he would have had six victories on the spin had he not unseated when clear at Lower Machen.
Cottage Oak (IRE) 9-4 (11-0) Qcknd to ld aft 13; ro wl, won at Wheatland 3m ptp gd beating Palypso De Creek (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 3 ran.
Palypso De Creek (FR) 1-3 (11-0) Led to 1; chsd wnr 15; eff up 2 out; no ex flat, 2nd of 3, 2 1/2l behind Cottage Oak (11-0) at Wheatland 3m ptp gd.
Sacred Mountain 5-4 (11-0) Held up; hdwy 8; ev ch 2 out; one pce, 2nd of 5, 3l behind Keeverfield (11-0) at Cumberland 3m ptp sft.
The General Lee (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Hdwy 11; one pce 2 out, 2nd of 7, 11l behind Lauberhorn (11-7) at Golden Valley 3m ptp fm.
Universal Soldier (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) In touch, headway 17th, led 4 out, ridden and wandered under pressure flat, hung right towards finish, held on, won at Cheltenham 4m 1f hts chs (4) gs in Apr beating Pearlysteps (11-13) by 1 1/4l, 17 ran.
Well Mett (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Raced wide, tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, led 14th, drew well clear from 2 out, won at Perth 3m 2f hts chs (5) sft in Apr beating Scrum V (11-5) by 18l, 7 ran.
How's My Friend 6-1 (11-3) Led to 6th, weakened before 3 out, last of 4, 16l behind Gwanako (11-11) at Wincanton 2m 5f (5) gs.
Lauberhorn 2-5 (11-7) Gd hdwy 15; lft in ld bend app 2 out; easy, won at Golden Valley 3m ptp fm beating The General Lee (11-7) by 11l, 7 ran.
Moscow Blaze (IRE) 11-10 (11-0) Led 5-6; ev ch 4 out; wknd app 2 out, 3rd of 4, 27l behind Start Royal (11-0) at Kimblewick 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Saveiro (FR) 1-3 (11-0) Held up; led 12; ro wl, won at West Norfolk 3m ptp gd beating Stage Acclaim (11-0) by 3l, 6 ran.
Chesnut Annie (IRE) 9-2 (11-5) Tracked leader to 12th, outpaced by clear pair 15th, left remote 2nd 4 out, no chance with winner, 2nd of 7, 33l behind Theatre Queen (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 1f mares hunt chs (4) gs in Apr.
