took keen hold, in rear, headway to lead after 2nd, not fluent next, headed 4th, weakened after 2 out
led, headed after 2nd, remained prominent, weakened after 3 out, went moderate 3rd last
mid-division, pushed along approaching 4th, in touch when mistake 2 out, soon weakened
with leader when stumbled and unseated rider soon after start
took keen hold, mid-division, lost place 3rd, losing touch from next, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway after 4th, weakened from 2 out
chased leader until after 2nd, lost place after next, progress to go 3rd briefly after 2 out, soon weakened
always prominent, went 2nd after 2 out, led approaching last, stayed on well
in touch, went 2nd approaching 3rd, led next, hit 2 out, headed approaching last, stayed on same pace
took keen hold in rear, headway after 4th, weakened from 2 out
Neil Harvey has created a favourable impression in two starts in bumpers but Nick Gifford's gelding lacks any hurdling experience and preference is for CARRICKBOY, who gets the vote with Quentin Collonges rated the pick of the remainder. The selection showed promise in his only start in a bumper at Perth before making an encouraging debut over hurdles when finding just King Ar Aghaidh too good at Fakenham. The softer ground today should suit and he is taken to give Venetia Williams another winner. Cross Kennon has not progressed from making a winning start for Jennie Candlish in a Ludlow bumper, while Tom George's King Stanley may be best watched on his racecourse debut. Henry Daly's Quentin Collonges ran well in two starts in France and should do better than on his British debut when highly tried behind Bakbenscher but Carrickboy sets a decent standard and he gets the vote.
All Fun And Games (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Led til hdd & wknd rap app 15; pulled up in race won by Vigzol (12-0) at Lockinge 3m ptp gd in Mar, 5 ran.
Badly Bruised (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, struggling from 9th, 7th of 15, 47l behind Bluegun (10-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Bagsy's Bridge (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Held up mid-division, weakened approaching 3 out, 10th of 21, 48l behind Kangaroo Court (10-9) at Doncaster 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Carrickboy (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Led, ridden approaching 2 out, headed and not fluent last, no extra, 2nd of 13, 4l behind King Ar Aghaidh (11-6) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs.
Cross Kennon (IRE) 100-1 (11-5) In rear, weakened 5 out, 8th of 16, well behind Tarablaze (11-11) at Haydock 2m 4f nov hdl (4) sft.
Formedable (IRE) 66-1 (10-12) Behind, under pressure when blundered and lost touch 8th, tailed off, 7th of 8, well behind Aux Le Bahnn (10-12) at Plumpton 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) hvy in Dec.
King Stanley (IRE) Runyon gelding out of Bucks Slave.
Neil Harvey (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Keen and always going well, led 7f out, driven clear over 1f out, ran on, won at Towcester 2m nhf (5) gs in Dec beating Ironical (10-4) by 10l, 9 ran.
Quentin Collonges (FR) 14-1 (10-12) With leader, led 2nd, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 16, 26l behind Bakbenscher (11-5) at Newbury 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
Jolly Cooper 66-1 (10-0) Always in the rear, 14th of 16, well behind Covert Mission (10-2) at Hereford 2m 1f nov hdl (4) sft in Dec.
