held up mid-division, tracked leaders before 5th, blundered 7th, soon lost place, pulled up after 5 out
with leader, led before 5th, clear before 4 out, jumped right last 2 fences, kept on well
close up, weakened before 4 out
held up towards rear, headway from 5 out, went 4th 4 out, ridden before 2 out, soon briefly chased winner, no extra from last
chased leaders, chased winner from 8th, ridden before 2 out, soon briefly lost 2nd place, no impression on winner
held up mid-division, weakened before 8th, pulled up after 5 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway before 7th, weakened before 4 out, blundered next
led, hit 1st, headed before 5th, pulled up before 7th
towards rear, headway before 7th, went 3rd after 5 out, in 4th and weakening when fell 2 out
held up towards rear, fell 6 out
AP McCoy was on board Qaspal when he won last year's Imperial Cup at Sandown but Philip Hobbs' charge has done nothing so far over fences. Louis Pasteur was 9lb out of the handicap when landing a hunter chase at Newton Abbot where he jumped his rivals silly. He meets much stronger opposition here but he's on his correct mark and must be in the shake-up. SWING BILL won a handicap at Cheltenham in November from just 1lb lower and has been racing in a completely different class to these. Tom Bellamy is back on board and his claim could make all the difference today. Cruchain isn't the most consistent of performers and finished alone for his victory at Cheltenham in April but Irish import Red Hot Poker ran well for a long way on his first start for new connections at Uttoxeter last month and will have come on considerably for the run.
Swing Bill (FR) 25-1 (10-10) Towards rear, behind when pulled up before 14th, in a race won by Tidal Bay (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Apr, 19 ran.
Shoreacres (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Mid-division, headway after 5th, ridden before 8th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 13th of 17, well behind Native Gallery (11-1) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Rockiteer (IRE) 33-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders on inside, took keen hold, mistake 10th, outpaced 16th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 15, 45l behind Fairoak Lad (11-4) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Get It On (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in touch, chased leaders under pressure 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 5th of 10, 19l behind On The Right Path (10-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in May.
Herons Well (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Led until 2nd, chased leaders until weakened 15th, tailed off, 6th of 14, 46l behind Salsify (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd.
Cruchain (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Not fluent 3rd, always towards rear, tailed off, 12th of 16, 42l behind Ostland (11-9) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gd in May.
Qaspal (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up behind leaders, improved 4 out, soon went close 2nd, well held from after 2 out, 2nd of 4, 20l behind Romanesco (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) hvy in May.
Louis Pasteur (IRE) 14-1 (10-4) Took keen hold, made virtually all, in command from 4 out, rider dropped whip and drew clear after 2 out, unchallenged, won at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp hts chs (4) gd in May beating King Cyrus (10-3) by 22l, 5 ran.
Red Hot Poker 5-1 (11-0) Raced keenly, led, ridden after 3 out (usual 4 out), headed and dropped to 3rd when fell 2 out, in a race won by Eastlake (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m beg chase (5) sft in May, 5 ran.
Bugsy's Boy 40-1 (11-4) In touch in 4th until pushed along after 7th, strugging next, tailed off 10th, pulled up after 4 out, in a race won by Punchestowns (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Feb '11, 4 ran.
