mid-division on outside, not fluent 4th, outpaced after 10th, no impression after, plugged on flat
held up in touch, ridden after 10th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up towards rear, headway approaching 5th, closed after 10th, ridden 3 out, one pace last
tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, mistake 8th, not fluent 3 out, mistake next, weakened flat
held up in rear, not much room 10th, soon pulled up
tracked leaders, went 2nd 10th, led approaching 3 out, driven last, headed flat, held towards finish
held up towards rear, mistakes 1st and 2nd, headway approaching 3 out, one pace flat
held up in rear on outside, jumped big at several hurdles, struggling after 9th
with leader until 10th, soon beaten, mistake 2 out, tailed off
in touch in mid-division, mistake 2nd, ridden 9th, soon weakened
tracked leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, switched left before next, never on terms with leaders
held up in mid-division, mistake 10th, headway approaching 3 out, soon close up, led flat, ridden out
led, headed when mistake 3 out, soon beaten, tailed off
Many of these appear to be having a pipe-opener over hurdles before going back over fences. Take The Breeze is certainly well handicapped on his chase form, however, while the in-form Benny Be Good won off today's mark over the larger obstacles at Market Rasen last month. Synchronised is a classy stayer on his day but is better when the mud is flying later in the season so this can go to BELLFLOWER BOY. He's won over fences but does seem happier over timber and should be all the better for his run at Chepstow 15 days ago where he got behind early and appeared to lose interest. Battle Group more than held his own in decent company in the spring and was third in a Grade 3 over C&D in April. A repeat of that effort would put him right in the firing-line for this.
Synchronised (IRE) 25-1 (11-8) Always towards rear, never a factor, pulled up before 6 out, in a race won by Organisedconfusion (9-13) at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Ext hcp ch gd in Apr, 25 ran.
Battle Group 5-1fav (11-6) Held up in mid-division, headway into 4th travelling well before 3 out, 2nd and ridden after 2 out, no impression in 3rd from early straight, kept on one pace, 3rd of 16, 10l behind Askanna (11-1) at Punchestown 3m nov hdl G2 (1) gd in May.
Benny Be Good 20-1 (11-8) Held up in touch, led 3 out, headed before 2 out, left in lead 2 out, ridden and headed last, kept on to regain lead towards finish, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep beating Buck Mulligan (10-8) by 2l, 16 ran.
Take The Breeze (FR) 12-1 (11-5) Badly hampered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Prince De Beauchene (10-5) at Aintree 3m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 15 ran.
Storm Brig 25-1 (11-4) Held up in rear on outside, not fluent 5th, mistake 7th, not fluent next, effort approaching 3 out, no impression 2 out, 5th of 9, 26l behind Spirit Son (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Across The Bay (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, 4th approaching 3 out, struggling from next, slightly hampered and kept on same pace from before straight, 8th of 24, 23l behind Kerb Appeal (11-8) at Punchestown 3m hcp hdl 88-130 gs in May.
Galaxy Rock (IRE) 2-1fav (11-7) Made all, clear from 2 out, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr beating Shammy Buskins (11-5) by 14l, 5 ran.
Fredo (IRE) 40-1 (9-9) Mid-division on outside, ridden and struggling after 18th, well behind next, tailed off approaching 20th, soon pulled up, in a race won by Beshabar (10-4) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 28 ran.
Bellflower Boy (IRE) 8-1 (10-5) Mistakes, in rear, tailed off 10th, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Ethiopia (9-7) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd, 13 ran.
Ernst Blofeld (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, weakened before 8th, tailed off, 13th of 14, well behind Cloudy Spirit (11-4) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar.
Salpierre (IRE) 3-1fav (10-13) Raced keenly, prominent, tracked winner from 3rd, not fluent 9th, soon no impression, lost 2nd last, 3rd of 13, 5l behind Mr Moonshine (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m 2f hcp hdl (2) sft in Jan.
No Principles 18-1 (11-10) Held up, headway when not fluent 9th, went 4th next, hit 2 out, no impression, blundered last, 4th of 9, 19l behind Jaunty Journey (11-5) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Rival D'Estruval (FR) 11-10fav (10-12) Held up mid-division, headway and in touch 7th, went 3rd before 2 out, ridden to challenge when not much room and squeezed through flat, stayed on to lead final 100 yards, won at Cartmel 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in May beating Escudero (11-5) by 2l, 9 ran.
Lamboro Lad (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Led, headed after 4th, led again 5th, headed 4 out, chased winner, kept on and always well held from 3 out, 2nd of 5, 2l behind Ghimaar (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jul '10.
