tracked leader, not fluent 6th or 7th, led well before 3 out, wandered before mistake last, edged right flat, stayed on well, drawing clear towards finish
held up in touch, ridden after 4 out, went 2nd next, driven to challenge last, no impression and stayed on same pace towards finish
tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, beaten from next, no extra last
led, jinked left before 4th, headed well before 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in last, in touch after 4 out, not fluent 3 out, soon edged left, no impression, went modest 4th flat
tracked leaders on inside, took keen hold, lost place 6th, well beaten after 4 out
held up, headway 6th, ridden to challenge flat, no impression and stayed on same pace towards finish
River Deep beat a decent field on his hurdling debut at Newton Abbot for which he's penalised. Both of his victories to date have been on heavy ground so connections would like more rain. MAGHERAL EXPRESS started favourite for his debut under Rules here in May but found All Force Majeure too quick for him in a bumper. A winning point-to-pointer, this is more his game and trip and he can take this. Wychwoods Brook did reasonably well over hurdles but is a much better chaser and landed a Grade 2 at Haydock in January. He'll be back over fences before long while Bulfin Island could be anything as he might have won on his debut between the flags but for falling and scored at Affane in January. Waltzing Tornado has won five times over fences but never in 15 starts over timber.
River Deep (IRE) 7-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 3 out, kept on and ridden out towards finish, won at Newton Abbot 2m 3f NH mdn hdl (4) hvy in May beating Sidbury Hill (11-0) by 2l, 13 ran.
Bulfin Island (IRE) 2-1 (12-2) Chsd ldrs, fair 6th & looked btn bef 4out, prog in 4th 2out & closed bef last, ld early flat & gng away fin, won at Affane 3m ire ptp sft in Jan beating Havaar (12-2) by 3l, 9 ran.
Magheral Express (IRE) 6-4fav (11-2) Led and set steady pace, switched right to near side rail over 1f out, soon ridden and kept on, headed near finish, 2nd of 9, nk behind All Force Majeure (10-12) at Worcester 2m NH flat (6) gd in May.
Royal Supreme (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, fell next, in a race won by Binge Drinker (11-0) at Worcester 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gs, 10 ran.
The Gunner Brady (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) 6th when ur 5, in a race won by Grand Exit (11-7) at Warwickshire 3m ptp gd in May, 9 ran.
Waltzing Tornado (IRE) 10-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 5 out, went 2nd approaching 3 out, one paced under pressure, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Count Guido Deiro (11-6) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Dec.
Wychwoods Brook 11-1 (10-12) Tracked leaders in 4th, led 10th, headed before 13th, weakened before 4 out, soon pulled up, in a race won by Rigadin De Beauchene (10-5) at Haydock 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) hvy in Feb, 14 ran.
