raced wide, soon prominent, led 9th, ridden after 3 out, stayed on well flat
never going well, always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 7th
in touch to 7th, soon weakened, tailed off when pulled up before 11th
prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up, pecked 1st, headway 11th, ridden and every chance approaching 2 out, weakened and eased flat
led to 1st, prominent, pushed along after 8th, weakened 9th
prominent, led 1st, hit 3rd, headed 9th, weakened approaching 2 out
Nonrunner
The three against the field are The Vintage Dancer, Runaway Bishop and Test Of Friendship with the last named getting the vote. Test Of Friendship was in the process of becoming an unreliable type either winning or pulling up but he was a very easy winner of a chase at Hereford last time out when beating Paddy The Optimist. He carries the seven pound penalty so connections must feel his chances are good. The Vintage Dancer ran well enough at Southwell last time out when finishing fourth behind Midnight Gold but improvement is needed and the same can be said for Runaway Bishop who finished third to Petolinski around here over three miles. This drop in trip might suit better although for the winner we return to Test Of Friendship.
Runaway Bishop (USA) 20-1 (11-4) Always prominent, mistake 4 out, ridden and outpaced soon after, kept on, not trouble front pair, 3rd of 14, 4l behind Petolinski (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) gs.
Gola Supreme (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) Soon struggling in rear, tailed off and pulled up at the 7th in race won by Jockser (10-9) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf, 13 ran.
Ikdam Melody (IRE) 11-1 (11-5) In touch, lost place 14th, outpaced when mistake 17th, soon behind, last of 6, well behind Coomakista (10-13) at Perth 3m 7f hts chs (4) gd in Apr.
The Vintage Dancer (IRE) 9-2jt-fav (9-11) Tracked leader, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 17l behind Midnight Gold (11-9) at Southwell 2m 5f nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf.
Dr Mann (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Behind, ridden and headway after 13th, stayed on to go 4th approaching last, never troubled leaders, 4th of 15, 16l behind Eveon (10-2) at Exeter 2m 7f nov hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf.
Fisherman Jack 15-2 (11-3) Chased leader until 8th, ridden 9th, outpaced 11th, 10 lengths down in 3rd when left in lead soon after last, ridden out, won at Bangor 3m beg chs (4) sft in Mar beating Icare d'Oudairies (11-3) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Red Alert Man (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Close up, weakened from 11th, 7th of 16, well behind Recent Edition (10-13) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Apr.
Test of Friendship 16-1 (10-13) Made virtually all, ridden approaching last, stayed on, won at Hereford 3m 1f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf beating Paddy The Optimist (9-13) by 1l, 17 ran.
