mid-division, lost place from 12th
in rear, headway 12th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on from last
held up behind, headway 11th, weakened 3 out
held up, headway 13th, led 2 out, driven out
led, headed after 10th, weakened 13th
towards rear, headway 11th, challenged 4 out, weakening in 4th when hit last
in touch, lost place 11th
behind, struggling from 9th, tailed off when pulled up before 13th
with leader, weakened 5 out
in touch, led after 10th, headed after 5 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, led after 5 out, headed 2 out, one pace
chased leaders, lost place approaching 14th
Lothian Falcon can make the most of his light weight to land the day's feature race at the Midlands track, with Always Waining, Pretty Star and It Takes Time seen as the other main contenders. Lothian Falcon has been in consistent form this season, having not been out of the first two in each of his last seven outings, and Peter Maddison's charge deserves a crack at this. He has been switching between hurdles and fences all year, and ran a sound race at Perth last time when second to Dream Alliance, considering that the ground was softer then he would have liked, and in receipt of weight from all bar Bolwleaze, he must surely go close. Always Waining goes on any ground and has also been in terrific form since the turn of the year, but has to give over a stone to the selection. In addition he meets Pretty Star on no less than 13lb worse terms for the seven-lengths that separated them at Newbury, and so the latter has to enter calculations. The veteran It Takes Time just failed to reel in The Bandit at Wincanton and looks best of the Pipe trio, but our fancy is Lothian Falcon.
Mister McGoldrick 16-1 (11-6) Close up until steadily lost place after 3rd, last and no chance 4 out, last of 8, 16l behind Dempsey (11-6) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr.
Joaaci (IRE) 40-1 (11-12) Always behind, reminders 7th, beaten when pulled up in race won by Hot Weld (9-9) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gf in Apr, 23 ran.
It Takes Time (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Held up in mid-division, headway 3rd, chased clear leader 14th, ridden 16th, headway from 4 out, led approaching last, hard ridden flat, headed post, 2nd of 6, shd behind The Bandit (11-3) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Always Waining (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) In touch, led 12th, made rest, driven out, won at Ayr 3m 1f nov hcp chs (2) gf in Apr beating Get My Drift (11-2) by 6l, 5 ran.
Puntal (FR) 80-1 (10-5) Towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 40, well behind Silver Birch (10-6) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Pretty Star (GER) 11-2 (11-12) Chased leaders, not fluent 8th, hit 12th, challenged 4 out, outpaced by front pair after 2 out, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Always Waining (11-4) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Mar.
King Harald (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Led until 2nd, prominent, mistake 9th, soon struggling, behind from 12th, 13th of 17, 43l behind Alderburn (11-12) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
Lothian Falcon 9-2fav (10-3) Mid-division, headway and in touch 5 out, chased winner 3 out, kept on, no impression, 2nd of 15, 8l behind Dream Alliance (11-3) at Perth 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Apr.
