tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 4th, challenged 6th, led before 3 out, headed after next, soon ridden, switched left towards far side rail flat, no impression when lost 2nd near finish
held up behind, headway on inside after 4 out, kept on same pace, weakened 2 out
raced keenly, mid-division, headway and in touch 4th, lost place 4 out, behind when pulled up before 2 out
in touch, headway to track leading pair 4 out, lead after 2 out, stayed on flat
mid-division on outside, headway 4 out, soon ridden and outpaced, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 4th, driven to chase leaders after 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression
chased leader to after 4th, struggling next, lost touch 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
led, wandered approaching first 4 hurdles, joined 6th, headed before 3 out, soon one pace, kept on to go 2nd near finish, no impression with winner
mid-division, driven to chase leaders after 4 out, kept on same pace under pressure from next, no impression
in rear, struggling 5th, tailed off next, pulled up before 3 out
Ballyboker Boy hasn't run up to the form of his second at Ffos Las in November in two subsequent starts and is passed over here while, despite finishing second on his hurdling bow at Sandown, Crystal Swing was still beaten 20 lengths and needs to improve to score here. Reste Gosse, runner-up to Red Skipper at Ludlow, looks interesting, however, though probably lacks the scope of bumper winner VRAI VERT. Paul Nicholls' hurdling newcomer is related to the top-class Captain Chris so should relish the switch to hurdles. Ludlow third Sarraco and another bumper winner, Tornado In Milan, have scope and look best of the rest.
Ballyboker Boy (IRE) 2-1 (11-0) Led, clear 8th, reduced lead and headed 3 out, no extra in 3rd when mistake next, 3rd of 9, 29l behind Themilanhorse (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Crystal Swing 40-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, headway to 4th before 2 out, went 3rd and hit 2 out, no extra between last 2, hit last, 2nd of 8, 20l behind Oscara Dara (11-1) at Sandown 2m nov hdl (4) gs in Mar.
Dr Anubis (IRE) 66-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden 13th, weakening when blundered and fell 14th, in a race won by Huckleberry (10-0) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gs in Mar, 12 ran.
Reste Gosse (FR) 7-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent and ridden 5th, headway approaching 3 out, chased winner next, held flat, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Red Skipper (10-6) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Sarraco (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, headway to mid-division, approaching 5th, ridden in 5th and not on terms before 3 out, stayed on steadily, went 3rd last, 3rd of 10, 12l behind One Term (10-12) at Ludlow 2m nh nov hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Shades Of Autumn (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, driven after 5th, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 15, well behind Jump City (11-3) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Tiber River 10-1 (12-0) Lost plce 8; to & pu 2 out, in a race won by She'solovely (11-7) at Garnons 2m 4f ptp gs in Mar '11, 8 ran.
Tornado In Milan (IRE) 7-2 (11-11) Led, ridden and headed 3f out, chased winner, no impression when dropped to 3rd entering final furlong, 3rd of 12, 12l behind Gonow (10-3) at Sedgefield 2m 1f NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Vrai Vert (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 15, 4l behind Irish Buccaneer (11-4) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gs in Apr.
Joe Mango 150-1 (10-4) Mistake 1st, behind, jumped right and mistake 3rd, reminders after next, tailed off from 5th, 15th of 17, well behind Brick Red (11-0) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn hdl (5) sft.
Lucky Vic (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Held up mid-division, headway before 2 out, jumped slightly left and not fluent last, kept on, 4th of 13, 13l behind Sunny Ledgend (11-1) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb.
R Craig (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway 7th, mistake 3 out, soon went 4th, weakened approaching 2 out, tailed off, 4th of 15, 38l behind Frizzo (11-0) at Towcester 2m 5f mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
