chased leaders until ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
chased leaders 5th, weakened after next, tailed off
held up mid-division, headway to go 2nd 5th, weakened after 3 out
keen hold, headway 3rd, weakening when mistake 2 out, jumped right last
led, clear after 1st until after 4th, mistake 6th, mistake 7th, soon headed, weakened approaching 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 6th, ridden next, weakened approaching 3 out
held up well in rear, not clear run on inside after 7th, switched right and headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing winner, ridden and half length down flat, no extra near finish
headway to chase leaders 4th, ridden after 6th, weakened after next
mid-division, dropped rear when not fluent 4th, always behind after
held up, headway 5th, led after 7th, clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well under pressure flat
took keen hold, held up well in rear, headway 7th, weakened approaching 2 out
Nonrunner
Lord Ryeford is a blot on the handicap here and can land this off a mark 27lb lower than his most recent win over fences. While it will be Lord Ryeford's first attempt in public at the smaller obstacles for over two years, he should hold too many guns for his rivals here. However, his clear advantage will be reflected into his likely short odds. Support for the former smart flat performer Golden Feather would be noteworthy after he had a recent pipe-opener at Market Rasen after his satisfactory return after nine months off. He travelled well before appearing to blow-up and should strip fitter here. Wild Tonto appears in the grip of the handicapper at present. Noel Chance saddles a rare runner of JP McManus here in A Little Bit Of Hush. Making his handicap debut here, he was the winner of a Haydock bumper on his racecourse debut two seasons back but obviously has had problems. Lord Ryeford is very hard to get away from given the discrepancy between his handicap marks and can take full advantage here.
Primitive Academy 20-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, led approaching 3 out, ridden and headed last, no extra flat, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Mango Catcher (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in May.
Rookery Lad 40-1 (11-11) Always behind, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Basic Fact (10-11) at Leicester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Dec.
Dancing Hill 14-1 (11-7) Always behind, tailed off, 11th of 15, well behind Aldiruos (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Wild Tonto (IRE) 11-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, raced keenly, hard ridden and stayed on one pace after last, 3rd of 17, 8l behind That Look (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Heavy Weather (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 5th of 13, 25l behind Master Somerville (11-10) at Bangor 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Apr.
Little Bit of Hush (IRE) 8-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, reminders after 4th, no chance after next, 5th of 12, 39l behind Brayford Lad (10-9) at Worcester 2m mdn hdl (5) sft in Apr.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway after 6th, led after 2 out, headed approaching last, hit last, led flat, driven out, won at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May beating Oumeyade (10-0) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Towerofcharlemagne (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Mid-division, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened, 7th of 14, 15l behind Huguenot (10-9) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in May.
Starstruck Peter (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Mid-division, headway 4 out, every chance next, ridden and weakening when not fluent last, 5th of 9, 13l behind Fistral (10-10) at Wetherby 2m mdn hdl (5) gf in May.
Gallant Hero 50-1 (11-8) Prominent, ridden after 4 out, weakened after next, 11th of 17, 30l behind Pearly Star (10-11) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Smart Tom (IRE) 12-1 (10-7) Held up in rear, headway after 7th, led briefly approaching 3 out, weakened approaching last, 3rd of 10, 20l behind Toby Belch (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gf in May.
Golden Feather 9-2 (11-0) Held up, ridden approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 5th of 10, 21l behind Boss Imperial (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in May.
