tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, mistakes 9th and 10th, soon ridden, weakened before 4 out, blundered and unseated rider next
pressed leader, led before 2nd, headed next, stayed prominent, ridden before 4 out, one pace in 3rd last
held up in 6th, took keen hold, headway after 10th, ridden and hung left 3 out, left 2nd and swerved right to avoid loose horse next, no impression on winner from last
in rear, not fluent 3rd, jumped slowly and lost touch briefly next, ridden after 10th, soon weakened
took keen hold, held up in touch in mid-division, headway 9th, went 2nd when mistake 4 out, soon switched right, challenging when left in lead 2 out, ridden clear from last, ran on well
led until before 2nd, led 3rd, pecked slightly 6th, not fluent 8th, edged left before mistake 3 out, joined when mistake, virtually fell and unseated rider 2 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 1st, ridden after 10th, mistake 4 out, no extra next, left 4th 2 out
SPECIAL ACCOUNT looks the interesting one in this opener as he won a point-to-point at Punchestown in 2010 and was quite highly tried over timber last season. A recent run at Newton Abbot should have blown away any cobwebs and he gets the nod ahead of Brassick, another who will have benefited from a recent run over hurdles, and Wiffy Chatsby. There would have been little between the latter pair over the smaller obstacles. The market will probably tell us if any of the others have a chance.
Bad Made (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent, lost place 3rd, closed 7th, soon weakened, last of 5, 42l behind Wake Your Dreams (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May.
Brassick 9-4 (11-12) Tracked leader, hit 2nd, led 6th, headed 2 out, weakened last, 3rd of 7, 8l behind Dizzy River (10-7) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in May.
Special Account (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, pushed along before 7th, ridden 2 out, one pace and no impression, 5th of 7, 11l behind Smalib Monterg (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Standing Ovation (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, weakened before 3 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Earcomesthedream (11-9) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs in Apr, 14 ran.
Wiffy Chatsby (IRE) 7-1 (11-12) Always behind, 11th of 17, well behind Midnight Prayer (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Ninfea (IRE) 7-1 (11-10) Held up, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, 5th of 7, 24l behind Brunton Blue (10-8) at Fakenham 2m 4f mares hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Tea Caddy 9-2 (10-12) In touch in mid-division, took keen hold, closed 5th, outpaced before 2 out, 5th of 10, 13l behind Mrs Peachey (10-12) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in May.
North London 7-1 (10-8) Chased leader, lost place after 4th, weakened 2 out (usual 3 out), soon pulled up, in a race won by Cladding (11-2) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f nov hcp hdl 0-95 (5) sft in Mar, 11 ran.