held up in touch, headway 6 out, soon pushed along, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out
tracked leader, every chance 3 out, hard ridden last, kept on under pressure
held up in rear, headway 4 out, chased leaders next, not pace to challenge
made all, strongly challenged 3 out, hard ridden approaching last, held on well
chased leaders, weakened 5 out, moderate 4th
held up in rear, mistakes throughout, weakened 12th, pulled up before 4 out
WHIZZAAR is a cut above the competition in this. He hasn't raced for over a year but scored over C&D when last seen and is the one to beat if running anywhere near his official rating. Armoury House looks next best despite having plenty to find with the selection on today's terms. He's a C&D winner and, having raced in a point-to-point recently, should have a fitness advantage over the other course winners King Cyrus and Novi Sad. Henri Prends Garde and Petitjean are harder to fancy and probably best watched on this occasion.
Henri Prends Garde (FR) 125-1 (12-1) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led 11th, headed 13th, weakened rapidly next, soon tailed off, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Coombe Hill (11-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hts chs (5) gd, 9 ran.
Whizzaar 6-5fav (12-5) Chased leader, challenged 10th, led next, clear from 13th, well in command when hit 2 out and last, won at Taunton 2m 7f hts chs (5) gs in Mar '11 beating Chesnut Annie (11-11) by 7l, 6 ran.
Armoury House 7-2 (11-0) Held up; hdwy 11; ch when rn out last, in a race won by Silver Monarch (11-0) at Badbury Rings 3m ptp in Feb, 7 ran.
King Cyrus (IRE) 15-8 (11-7) Tracked leaders, lost place 7th, rallied 10th, blundered 13th, 4th and outpaced approaching 4 out, 4th of 8, 23l behind Fairwood Present (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (6) gd in May.
Novi Sad (IRE) 66-1 (12-7) Lost plce 8; to & pu 12, in a race won by Presentandcorrect (12-7) at Didmarton 3m ptp gd, 13 ran.
Petitjean 33-1 (12-0) (cp) mists; to aft 12; pu last, in a race won by Up There (12-7) at Howick 3m ptp gs in Feb, 10 ran.
