tracked leaders, not fluent 11th or 13th, challenged 4 out, slight lead after last, soon ridden and headed, outbattled towards finish
made virtually all, pushed along after 14th, hard pressed from 4 out, stayed on gamely
held up, not fluent 8th, headway after next, went 2nd 12th until 4 out, weakened 2 out, mistake last
held up, jumped right, in touch when not fluent 11th, weakened 3 out, went badly right and fell 2 out
tracked leader, not fluent 1st, hit 5th, jumped right and not fluent 7th, last 13th, weakened next, pulled up before 4 out
Aldertune scraped home at Chepstow in March but disappointed in a couple of subsequent starts and may find VINCITORE too strong here. He only won by a short-head when well backed over C&D last month but that looked a decent contest for the time of year with the fourth having franked the form since. John's Gift showed very little in a couple of runs over fences at Exeter last winter and has been off the track for a while but may still prove the pick of the remaining pair.
Aldertune (IRE) 7-4 (11-4) Tracked leading duo, went 2nd 11th, mistake and pecked 4 out, ridden before 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 3, 8l behind Alderley Rover (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f nov chs (4) gd in Apr.
Vincitore (FR) 13-8fav (11-6) Prominent, led 3rd, jumped right and reminder 6th, headed 10th, not fluent and hampered next, led after 13th until 4 out, led 2 out, headed and not much room flat, got back up close home, won at Worcester 2m 7f beg chs (4) gd in Sep beating Mr Moss (11-6) by shd, 9 ran.
John's Gift 33-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, ridden and weakened 5 out, pulled up next, in a race won by Dinarius (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f beg chase (3) sft in Feb, 7 ran.
Phare Isle (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Held up, jinked right and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Ostland (11-5) at Huntingdon 3m Novice Handicap Chase (0-135) (4yo+) (3) gf, 7 ran.
Russian Conquest 100-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, no chance when mistake 2 out, 11th of 18, 28l behind Furrows (11-4) at Wincanton 2m nov hdl (4) sft in Jan.
