held up, took keen hold, headway 9th, hit 15th, ridden after 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
tracked leaders, went 2nd before 8th until 14th, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 13th, mistake 3 out, weakened after 2 out
tracked leaders, jumped slowly 4th, mistake 12th, ridden and lost place 14th, blundered next, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway on inside 11th, 3rd from 2 out, weakened last
tracked leader until before 8th, went 2nd again 14th, left in lead after 2 out, headed last, no impression final 75 yards
held up in last, blundered 1st, not fluent next, mistake and reminders 9th, mistake 12th, soon lost touch, pulled up before 14th
held up, steady headway approaching 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led going best last, driven to assert final 100 yards
led, ran wide on bend and reminders after 3rd, again ran wide on same bend after 11th, 2 lenghts ahead when bad mistake 2 out, headed and not recover
Nonrunner
Restless D'Artaix returns from a long absence but is unexposed over fences and it would be no surprise if he was placed to win a couple of races this summer. Mizen Raven and Midnight Gold have also been off the track for a while but Presentandcorrect returned to action with an excellent second over C&D, though now races off a career-high mark. Checkerboard took advantage of a lenient mark to score at Hexham last month but isn't as well treated here, while Marleybow has been put up 6lb for finishing second at Ludlow. I NEED A HERO carries a penalty for winning at Wetherby eight days ago but looked a much-improved chaser that day and his winning margin would have been greater had Richard Johnson not eased him to a walk close home. He can follow up here.
Mizen Raven (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and weakened 4 out, 6th of 8, well behind King Fontaine (11-2) at Haydock 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Presentandcorrect (IRE) 16-1 (11-6) Tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, chased winner 15th, driven after 2 out, stayed on, always held, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Garleton (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Restless D'artaix (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, driven approaching 2 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 4, 12l behind Song of Songs (11-4) at Sandown 2m nov chs (3) gd in Mar '09.
Midnight Gold 33-1 (10-0) In touch on outside, dropped to mid-division 5th, behind when mistake and unseated rider 13th (bechers brook), in a race won by Hello Bud (10-5) at Aintree 3m 2f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Nov, 17 ran.
I Need A Hero (IRE) 10-3 (11-5) Held up towards rear, headway 11th, went 3rd after 5 out, led before 2 out, soon clear, ran on well, eased towards finish, won at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd beating Prophete De Guye (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Checkerboard (IRE) 5-2fav (11-7) Tracked leaders, headway 4 out, led 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure flat (no time taken), won at Hexham 2m 4f cnd hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May beating Sierra Victor (10-4) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Marleybow (IRE) 5-1 (10-8) Mid-division, not fluent 4th, jumped slowly 6th, closed 11th, challenged 2 out, upsides last, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Pilgrims Lane (10-12) at Ludlow 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in May.
Keenan's Future (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Towards rear when fell 8th, in a race won by Southwestern (12-0) at Stratford 3m 4f hts chs (2) gd in May, 14 ran.
Tom's Toybox 14-1 (11-7) In rear, reminder after 5th, jumped slowly 9th, behind next, 7th of 10, 43l behind Logans Run (11-7) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Fort View (IRE) 7-4 (11-1) Chased leading pair, slow 3rd, not fluent next, pushed along before 10th, dropped to last at 14th, stayed on to moderate 4th 2 out, 4th of 5, 13l behind Quattrocento (10-2) at Ffos Las 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) fm in May.
