held up in touch, blundered 8th, led last, ridden run-in, kept on and headed towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden and one pace before last
refused to race
tracked leader, led 3 out, headed last, ridden and kept on same pace run-in
held up in touch, pushed along before 3 out, soon weakened
led to 3 out, weakened before last
held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden to lead run-in, kept on, driven out
held up towards rear, weakened before 4 out
Some nice chasing prospects are tackling fences for the first time in this. Harry Fry won it last year and runs BAGS GROOVE, who will enjoy conditions and had an excellent strike-rate over hurdles. He was rated 7lb higher than Storm Home and 9lb higher than Verni over the smaller obstacles but the latter pair should also win races. Diable De Sivola and Don Bersy are also useful hurdlers who ended last season in decent nick so the form of this race should definitely be worth following in the months ahead.
Bags Groove (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased winner until 3 out, chased leaders, weakened before 2 out, 10th of 16, 18 1/4l behind William Henry (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp lst (1) sft in Jan.
Diable De Sivola (FR) 9-1 (10-13) Mid-division, no impression from 3 out, 14th of 22, 14 1/4l behind Champagne Express (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Don Bersy (FR) 3-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, in 4th before last, one pace, 4th of 7, 14l behind I'm A Game Changer (11-9) at Ludlow 2m hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Militarian 6-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 6 out, chased leaders after next, led before 2 out, headed approaching last, soon rallied, kept on well, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Ulis De Vassy (10-8) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Native Gamut (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, left in modest 4th at 10th, struggling when jumped slowly 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Fakenham 3m (4) gs in Apr.
Storm Home (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) With leader, still every chance when mistake 2 out, soon ridden and lost place, weakened last, 10th of 19, 15 1/2l behind Jester Jet (10-9) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Verni (FR) 12-1 (11-1) Held up in touch, close 3rd 3 out, led after 2 out, awkward and wandered flat, headed final 150 yards, no extra close home, 6th of 22, 2 1/4l behind Champagne Express (10-2) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Vetoncall (IRE) 33-1 (11-0) Towards rear, pushed along 6th, weakened before 3 out, soon tailed off, pulled up, at Ludlow 2m 5f (4) sft in Apr.
