prominent, not fluent 8th, hit 9th and 10th, soon pushed along and dropped to rear next, reminders and struggling 12th, tailed off
held up in rear, went 3rd at 11th, headway to chase leader approaching 2 out, pushed along before last, ridden and led 110 yards out on run-in, kept on
handy in 2nd, not fluent 4 out, ridden after 2 out and dropped away
led, jumped well, pushed along before last, ridden and headed final 110 yards on flat, no extra
Mac Tottie has only run once since winning the Topham in April of last year and Ibleo hasn’t been seen since running in that that race in 2021. RIDERS ONTHE STORM won the Grade 2 Old Roan here last season and, though also returning from an absence, should pick off an out-of-sorts Top Ville Ben in the closing stages.
Ibleo (FR) 14-1 (11-12) Slowly away, behind, pecked 10th (bechers), hampered next, stayed on from last, never any chance, 8th of 26, 33 1/2l behind Livelovelaugh (11-0) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Mac Tottie 50-1 (11-9) Held up in rear, pushed along before 5th, well beaten 3 out, pulled up after 2 out, at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Riders Onthe Storm (IRE) 3-1 (11-7) Jumped right, led until 6th, shaken up after 2 out, hung right and mistake last, no impression flat, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Whistleinthedark (11-10) at Perth 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Top Ville Ben (IRE) 6-1 (10-13) Raced wide, tracked leaders, ridden 5 out, weakened 3 out, pulled up last, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Dec.
