chased leader, lost place 9th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 16th
held up, pulled early, chased leader from 3rd, led 11th, clear approaching 3 out, easily
held up, headway and chased leader approaching 16th, ridden approaching 17th, lost touch with winner 3 out, weakened last
prominent, lost touch 14th, tailed off 16th
led, clear 3rd, headed 11th, mistake 15th, lost place 16th
mid-division, hit 14th, headway 15th, ridden 16th, no chance after
Capable when with Paul Nicholls, TURTHEN clearly retains plenty of ability, was good value for his win here last month and he gets the vote to win again, getting the verdict ahead of Golden Jack and Imperial Sun. James White's gelding lost no caste in defeat on his latest start in a hunter chase when a fair fourth at Taunton and has run well in a point-to-point since then so he has to be considered. Who Else Knew has kept his form well since winning here in March and he makes more appeal than either General Blackthorn or Bush Park, who look to be out of their depth. Golden Jack was well held in a valuable race at Stratford last time and should do better in this company but it is hard to get away from Turthen, who has an obvious chance and gets the vote to win again.
Golden Jack (FR) 4-5 (12-7) Led to 2; no ch 15, 2nd of 5, 18l behind Rustic John (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp in Mar.
Turthen (FR) 8-11fav (11-13) Held up, headway from 14th, chased leaders 17th, left in lead after 4 out, soon ridden, mistake 2 out, pushed clear flat, won at Wincanton 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd in Apr beating Get My Drift (11-6) by 6l, 10 ran.
Who Else Knew (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Held up, ridden after 11th, stayed on from after 4 out, challenged for 3rd 2 out, held when left 3rd briefly last, 4th of 14, 11l behind Rien A Perdre (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gf in Apr.
Bush Park (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) (cp) held up; hdwy 14; led 15 til hdd & no ex last, 2nd of 7, 3l behind Tyneham (12-0) at Littlewindsor 3m ptp in Apr.
General Blackthorn 1-3 (12-7) In tch til outpcd 13, 2nd of 4, 30l behind Lile Na Casca (11-7) at Larkhill 3m ptp in Apr.
Imperial Sun (IRE) 11-10fav (11-5) Chased leaders, hampered 8th, went 2nd 13th, lost 2nd under pressure before 3 out, beaten when lost towards 3rd next, 4th of 8, 27l behind Twenty Degrees (11-11) at Taunton 2m 7f hts chs (5) fm in Apr.