led, headed before 3 out, ridden approaching next, kept on same pace, no impression with leading pair approaching last, weakened flat
raced keenly, held up in rear in touch, headway 11th, challenged 4 out, led before next, driven approaching 2 out, ridden and hard pressed flat, headed final stride
held up in touch on outside, headway 3 out, soon chased leading pair, driven approaching next, chased leader and hung right between last 2, ridden last, rallied flat, led final stride
tracked leaders on inside, challenged 10th, lost place when hit 4 out, weakened from next
tracked leader on inside, mistake 9th, lost place when hit next, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up after 5 out
tracked leaders, hit 9th, ridden and outpaced 4 out, weakened from next
tracked leaders, hit 7th, outpaced 10th, 6th and no impression when blundered and unseated rider 3 out
Bohemian Rock is still a maiden under Rules but went close over a slightly shorter trip here in the spring, while Caspar Of Tarsus is well treated on his best form. Monsieur Georges beat Ilongue at Plumpton in April but was pulled up at Southwell shortly after and hasn't been seen since. Papradon was third at Ludlow last month and is starting to come down the weights again. He makes more appeal than Safe Investment, who has won twice over hurdles this year but has now had 18 starts over fences without managing to get his head in front. But the vote goes to SPOT THE BALL, who should step up on his hurdles form now tackling the larger obstacles and is started off at a reasonable level. Only six, he probably has more scope than today's rivals.
Papradon 7-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, jumped slowly 2nd (water), went 2nd 6th until 8th, left 3rd 4 out, stayed on same pace, mistake last, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Foreign King (11-11) at Ludlow 3m am hcp chs 0-100 (5) gf in Oct.
Safe Investment (USA) 7-2 (10-6) Held up, headway approaching 8th, ridden next, weakened after 3 out, 6th of 9, 26l behind Lost Glory (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Oct.
Spot The Ball (IRE) 3-1fav (10-12) Mid-division, headway 8th, challenged 2 out (normal 3 out), carried right bypassing normal 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace final 100 yards, 2nd of 16, 2l behind Rannoch Moor (11-4) at Uttoxeter 3m nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) gf in Sep.
Caspar of Tarsus (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders 8th, went 2nd and blundered 12th, every chance from 5 out, ridden and hit 3 out and next, no extra and held last, 2nd of 15, 3l behind Ilewin Tom (10-10) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Bohemian Rock 11-4fav (10-3) Took keen hold, jumped right, always prominent, led before 3rd, ridden and edged left after 2 out, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Crack At Dawn (10-8) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May.
Monsieur Georges (FR) 7-2fav (11-2) Chased leaders, jumped slowly 3rd and 10th, soon ridden and lost place, behind 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Apache Brave (10-1) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Apr, 7 ran.
Ilongue (FR) 5-1 (9-11) Prominent early, tracked leaders, hit 9th, struggling before 3 out, well held from 2 out, 5th of 7, 21l behind Crack At Dawn (10-8) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in May.
