chased leader until 3 out, weakened 2 out, behind when fell last
led, ridden and headed last, one pace flat
mid-division, headway 5th, switched right approaching 2 out, led last, ran on well flat
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, headway when mistake 3 out, no impression when hit last
chased leaders, mistake 4th, weakened next, tailed off
always prominent, went 2nd 3 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace
held up, headway approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
took keen hold, held up, not fluent 4th, losing touch when jumped right 5th, soon tailed off
blundered badly, bumped and unseated rider 2nd
took keen hold, held up, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on same pace from 2 out
took keen hold, held up, hampered 2nd, struggling from 4th, tailed off from next
Welcome Stranger can land this to the expense of Rosecliff, Slalom and Tech Eagle. Gary Moore is winning with his stable cat at the moment and Welcome Home won first time of asking over hurdles at Warwick before coming to grief two out at the Aintree Festival when in third place behind Straw Bear. That form alone is good enough to win this and with a clear round of jumping should not be beat. Rosecliff will pose as the biggest danger to the selection having been rated in the high seventies on the flat and managing a win at Ludlow in novice company. He ran at Cheltenham last time out though but this is an easier contest so he is worth noting. As is Slalom who favours fast ground and has some consistent form figures to his name. Tech Eagle landed himself in the winners enclosure last time out at Fontwell and looks a horse with a future. He may find a couple too good here but place money should be expected. So for the winner we return to Welcome Home.
Slalom (IRE) 10-3 (11-0) Chased leaders, stumbled 6th, ridden and not fluent 2 out, weakening when mistake last, 4th of 9, 23l behind Noble Sham (10-11) at Worcester 2m 4f nov hdl (E) gf in Sept.
Sunley Shines 7-1 (11-1) Prominent, led approaching 4th, hit next, headed when mistake 2 out, weakened quickly, tailed off, 12th of 18, well behind Harringay (11-1) at Newbury 2m 5f mrs hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
Tech Eagle (IRE) 2-1fav (11-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 2f mdn hdl (5) gd beating Ladino (11-0) by 3 1/2l, 16 ran.
Welcome Stranger 14-1 (11-0) Held up, blundered 4th, headway 4 out, ridden and one pace in 3rd when fell 2 out in race won by Straw Bear (11-3) at Aintree 2m nov hdl Grd 2 (1) gs, 16 ran.
Baie des Flamands (USA) 50-1 (11-2) Mid-division, ridden after 5th, weakened next, 15th of 17, 33l behind Speed Venture (10-2) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gd in Feb.
Rosecliff 15-2 (11-1) Always towards rear, tailed off and pulled up at the last in race won by Shamayoun (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4yo hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Akash (IRE) 22-1 (11-2) Held up, headway and every chance 3 out, kept on one pace from next, 3rd of 11, 11l behind Toparudi (11-2) at Fakenham 2m cnd mdn hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Persian Native (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Led, ridden and pressed from 2f out, driven and kept on well until headed inside final furlong, no extra, 6th of 14, 4l behind Ringaroses (11-8) at Lingfield 2m nhf (6) pol in Feb.
