held up last, mistake and lost iron 18th, soon weakened
led, ridden 17th, hit 2 out and headed, weakened last
prominent, ridden 18th, weakened 4 out
held up, towards rear, hit 17th, ridden 18th, good headway from 3 out, every chance last, hard ridden and ran on well flat, just failed
mid-division, outpaced in rear 9th, soon tailed off, mistake 3 out, pulled up after 2 out
held up towards rear, headway from 16th, ridden and challenged 4 out, led 2 out, hard ridden flat ran on gamely to just hold on (hand timed)
prominent, hit 16th, soon ridden, weakened 18th
chased leader, ridden and lost touch 14th, tailed off
in touch, headway and chased leaders approaching 4 out, soon ridden, hit 2 out, stayed on well from last
Gunther McBride had a good season last term and has to be respected on his return but the Philip Hobbs-trained 10-year-old may just need the run so preference is for I Hear Thunder, who gets the vote ahead of Patches. The last mentioned is less exposed than most of these and is potentially well treated despite top weight but a lot of the horses from the yard of Paul Nicholls have needed their run first time out so he may prove to be best watched. Recent Fontwell second Tom Sayers is entitled to be thereabouts and gets on well with his young rider, while stablemate Willie John Daly lost his way last term and is difficult to recommend on recent form. Bounce Back has not won since landing the 2003 Attheraces Gold Cup and of more interest may be Peter Bowen's Mckelvey, who is entitled to strip fitter for his recent reappearance at Bangor. The vote though goes to Bob Buckler's I Hear Thunder, who made a winning return at Chepstow earlier this month and has an obvious chance even off today's 7lb higher mark.
Patches (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Close up, pushed along after 4 out, beaten when blundered and weakened next, 5th of 9, 17l behind Ollie Magern (11-7) at Kempton 3m nov chs Grd 1 (A) gs in Dec.
Gunther McBride (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, never going well from 11th, behind from 13th, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Farmer Jack (11-12) at Kempton 3m hcp chs Grd 3 (A) sft in Feb.
Willie John Daly (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Held up, headway 22nd, ridden after 24th, weakened after next, 7th of 20, 27l behind Another Rum (11-7) at Cheltenham 4m 1f nov amt chs (B) gd in Mar.
Merchants Friend (IRE) 33-1 (10-6) Mid-division, driven and weakened before 3 out, 9th of 19, 26l behind Jack High (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs Grd 3 (A) gs in Apr.
I Hear Thunder (IRE) 9-1 (10-0) In touch, close order 7th, ridden and outpaced after 13th, rallied and led 2 out, edged left and ridden clear flat, won at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd beating Colourful Life (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Tom Sayers (IRE) 13-8fav (11-5) Prominent, led 13th, ridden and headed after 4 out, rallied and every chance last, no extra flat, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Snowy Ford (11-8) at Fontwell 3m 2f hcp chs 0-125 (D) gd.
Le Jaguar (FR) 13-2 (9-11) Mid-division, stayed on 4 out but not reach leaders, 5th of 11, 27l behind I Hear Thunder (10-0) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-145 (B) gd.
Mckelvey (IRE) 5-1fav (11-12) Held up, headway 12th, soon ridden, outpaced 3 out, hit 2 out, rallied approaching last, kept on flat, 2nd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Ebony Light (10-9) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-125 (D) gs.
