tracked clear leader, closed 10th, lost 2nd 3 out, pushed along in 3rd soon after, rallied to 2nd between last 2, challenged last, soon led, driven flat, headed close home
jumped left, held up in rear, pushed along and no progress from 11th, went poor 5th before 2 out
held up in touch, pushed along and struggling before 4 out, tailed off
tracked leading trio, fell 4th
led and soon clear, reduced lead 10th, headed before 2 out, driven and lost 2nd between last 2, good jump last, rallied on inside flat, driven to lead again close home
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3 out, led before 2 out, driven and tiring when mistake last, soon headed and no extra in 3rd flat
held up off the pace in last trio, headway 8th, blundered 10th, not fluent 3 out, went modest 4th well before 2 out
tracking leaders when blundered and lost place 3rd, behind and never jumped with any fluency after, eventually completed, tailed off
Up To Something has been raised 7lb after scoring on his chasing debut at Carlisle. This is a stronger race and he'll do well to follow up. Le Bacardy won by a wide margin at Kempton in May and has scope for further improvement while Lyvius looks nicely treated on his chasing bow while Thunderstorm did well over hurdles last season, though Richard Johnson prefers Persian Snow who looks a likely chasing type. IVOR'S KING won over hurdles on this card 12 months ago and had excuses when a beaten favourite at Newton Abbot on his latest start having won well at the Devon track earlier. He is taken to recoup losses as Seedsman would probably prefer an easier surface than he'll encounter today.
Up To Something (FR) 6-4fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 6th, hard driven 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Carlisle 2m (3) gd in Oct beating Swaledale Lad (10-4) by 3 1/2l, 9 ran.
Thunderstorm (IRE) 10-11fav (11-8) Held up last, closer order on outside approaching 5th, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and no response after 2 out, beaten and eased flat, tailed off, last of 4, 26l behind Crowning Jewel (10-13) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gs in Mar.
Le Bacardy (FR) 5-2 (11-0) In touch, headway to join leaders 4 out, led narrowly before next, driven when left 15 lengths clear 2 out, unchallenged after, won at Kempton 2m beg chase (4) gd in May beating Synthe Davis (10-7) by 30l, 7 ran.
Minella Definitely (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Close up in 6th, weakened on long run to 2 out, tailed off, 9th of 19, well behind First Avenue (10-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (0-150) (1) hvy in Mar.
Ivor's King (IRE) 2-1fav (11-12) Led, blundered 1st, headed 7th, outpaced 2 out, kept on and no impression, 4th of 7, 14l behind Notarfbad (11-4) at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Oct.
Persian Snow (IRE) 9-2 (11-2) Held up, mistake 5th, well beaten 3 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Bear's Affair (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec, 11 ran.
Lyvius 25-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, every chance before 2 out, weakened last, 13th of 22, 24l behind Cockney Sparrow (9-9) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Orzare (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, blundered 11th, headway when badly hampered and unseated rider 4 out, in a race won by Black Thunder (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 4f beg chs (4) sft in Oct, 6 ran.
Seedsman 6-4fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, driven approaching 2 out, soon no chance with easy winner, stayed on to press for 2nd last, no extra flat, 3rd of 12, 20l behind Red Courtier (11-0) at Stratford 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
