led until 7th, stayed close up, not much room and lost place on inside approaching 4 out, 4th and beaten 2 out, went 3rd last strides
tracked leaders, led approaching 4 out, clear last, easily
tracked leaders, hampered 1st, hit 4th, hampered 11th, driven after 12th, struggling when mistake 13th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
held up behind leaders, pulled up after 9th
reluctant to race, in rear, headway 7th, hit 13th, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
tracked leader, sometimes jumped right, mistake 1st, not fluent 4th, led 7th, ridden and headed approaching 4 out, weakened flat, eased briefly, lost 3rd last stride
Not a lot to go on in this opener and JIM EDWARDS is only a tentative selection. Along with Tara Gale, he only won a match between the flags at Maisemore Park earlier this month but looks a sound jumper and handles fast ground well enough. Mad Victor appears to have the beating of the enigmatic Johnny Kilawee on their run together at Cheltenham two weeks ago and is probably the main danger as Jack's The Lad was well beaten at Stratford last month and Bold Punt isn't easy to catch right nowadays.
Bold Punt (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) (cp) led to 11; outpcd 3 out, 3rd of 6, 9l behind Stratford Stroller (11-7) at Bitterley 3m ptp in Apr.
Mad Victor (IRE) 5-2 (11-7) Held up, hampered 5th, headway approaching 10th, chased winner 2 out, stayed on, no impression when edged right towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Creevytennant (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gf.
Jack's The Lad (IRE) 25-1 (11-3) Held up, not fluent 5th or 7th, ridden after 8th, went 3rd next, no impression approaching 4 out, demoted to 4th next, 4th of 6, 27l behind Moment of Madness (11-11) at Stratford 2m 7f hts chs (5) gf in Apr.
Jim Edwards (IRE) 8-13 (12-0) Made all; unchall, won at Maisemore Park 3m ptp gf beating Stormy Bob (12-5) by 6l, 2 ran.
Johnny Kilawee (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Reluctant to race, took keen hold in rear, headway approaching 10th, 3rd when mistake 5 out, chased winner 3 out until 2 out, beaten last, one pace, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Creevytennant (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gf.
Tara Gale (11-7) Led 7; drew clr aft 3 out; easy, won at Maisemore Park 3m ptp gf beating Strong Weld (12-0) by 12l, 2 ran.
