held up, headway 9th, blundered 13th, led after 3 out, clear 2 out, pushed out
towards rear, blundered and unseated rider 2nd
tracked leaders, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
towards rear, headway approaching 14th, ridden approaching 3 out, kept on to go 2nd last, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, hit 5th, lost place 7th, soon behind
in touch, mistake 1st, lost place after 9th, towards rear when blundered 13th, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
prominent, led 9th to 10th, mistake 13th, soon led again, ridden and headed 14th, weakened next
always behind, tailed off when pulled up before 12th
towards rear when hampered then unseated rider 2nd
towards rear, headway 8th, led 14th, hit 3 out, soon ridden and headed, weakening when mistake last
in touch, pushed along after 9th, weakened 12th
led to 9th, led again 10th, blundered 13th, soon headed, weakened 14th, tailed off when pulled up after 15th
Knife Edge is likely to be at prohibitive odds and is hard to oppose in a race where the main dangers look to be Mr Mahdlo and Rebel Lad. The selection was useful on his day over both hurdles and fences and has shown that he still retains plenty of ability in winning in this grade at both Warwick and Cheltenham recently. A reproduction of either of those winning efforts would surely suffice against his rivals here. Frontenac is lightly raced but needs to improve to trouble the judge and of more interest may be Raiseapearl, who won this contest 12 months ago but has disappointed since then. The ex-German Toscanini should be appreciative of the underfoot conditions, while Mr Mahdlo was well held at Kelso last time and is hard to back on that evidence. Winning pointer Rebel Lad is hard to evaluate but it will a surprise if he is good enough to beat Knife Edge, who gets the vote.
Knife Edge (USA) 14-1 (11-11) Chased leaders in 4th, went 3rd and not fluent 9th, hit 15th, ridden from 3 out, driven to lead last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (4) gd in Apr beating Yeoman Sailor (12-0) by 7l, 10 ran.
Frontenac (IRE) 12-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, led 7th until 12th, prominent, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 8, 15l behind Bengal Bullet (11-9) at N Abbot 3m 2f hts chs (6) gf.
Mr Mahdlo 9-4 (12-0) Soon towards rear, 3rd of 8, well behind Jacksonville (11-9) at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (5) sft in Apr.
Preston Brook 7-2 (12-5) pulled up in race won by Mr Pendleberry (12-0) at Duncombe Park 3m ptp gd in Feb, 15 ran.
Raiseapearl 14-1 (11-3) Tracked leaders, hit 8th, weakening when mistake 16th, behind when mistake 2 out, 6th of 8, 37l behind Tsar's Twist (11-5) at Ludlow 3m 1f hts chs (5) gf in Apr.
Rebel Lad (IRE) 5-4fav (12-0) A last pr; rdn 9; pulled up in race won by Gunner Royal (12-0) at Heslaker 3m ptp gf in Apr, 7 ran.
Sad Mad Bad (USA) 5-1 (12-0) Mid-div til unseated rider in race won by Duchess Account (11-7) at Dingley 4m ptp gd, 20 ran.
Toscanini (GER) 33-1 (11-7) In touch, outpaced after 15th, headway approaching 3 out, held when left 2nd 2 out, 2nd of 8, 10l behind Bengal Bullet (11-9) at N Abbot 3m 2f hts chs (6) gf.
