chased leaders, challenged 4 out, led 3 out, clear before 2 out, kept on and headed close home
close up, pecked badly 8 out, headway 2 out, kept on gamely to lead close home
led to 2nd, chased leaders, went 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace
towards rear, effort before 2 out, no impression
in touch, outpaced 3 out, kept on same pace from 2 out
held up in rear, unseated rider 9th
soon towards rear and not fluent, never dangerous
tracked leaders and keen, led 2nd, headed 5th, blundered 3 out, weakened after last
mid-division, soon chased leaders, led 5th, ridden and headed 3 out, ran wide before 2 out, hard driven, weakened run-in
Lough Coi's form figures last season look impressive but he was usually well beaten and the handicapper is reluctant to give him much rope. BISHOPHILL JACK has been dropped 12lb since winning over course and distance just under a year ago. He's not exactly reliable but will probably never get a better chance to end his losing run. Von Galen and veteran Overton Lad are others who have gone well here in the past while Classic Case won over 2m4f here in November and is closely matched with the selection on a subsequent run. Ifonlyalfie looks best of the rest.
Classic Case (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Led until blundered and headed 14th, soon lost place, ridden 15th, weakened next, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Doubletoilntrouble (11-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Lough Coi (IRE) 3-1 (10-1) Close up, pushed along 7th, ridden 10th, outpaced by leading pair 3 out, 3rd of 5, 33l behind Wessex King (11-9) at Market Rasen 2m 4f cond hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Bishophill Jack (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, jumped right 5th, driven in 4th after 12th, soon lost place, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Bringewood Belle (9-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Petit Ecuyer (FR) 25-1 (11-8) In rear, effort before 4 out, went 5th from 3 out, no impression, 6th of 11, 33l behind River Purple (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Apr.
Ifonlyalfie 6-1 (10-5) Led until before 5th, led after 7th until 3 out, no extra in 4th before last, 5th of 7, 19l behind Roc De Guye (11-4) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Von Galen (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Held up, hampered 2nd, headway after 6th, mistake 8th, no extra last (normal 3 out), 5th of 10, 30l behind Quayside Court (9-10) at Towcester 3m cnd hcp chs (0-95) (5) gs in Nov.
Tara Tavey (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) Soon pushed along in rear, plugged on from 4 out, never in contention, 6th of 12, 24l behind Pennant Dancer (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Killfinnan Castle (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) In touch, reminders after 9th, ridden and lost place 11th, 8th of 13, 24l behind Comeonginger (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Overton Lad 25-1 (9-11) Rear of mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway on outside before 5th, ridden and lost place when hit 7th, behind 11th, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Cosway Spirit (11-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (5) gs in Mar, 11 ran.
