prominent, led 4th, hit 8th, soon headed, lost place next, headway 12th, no impression approaching 4 out, weakened before next
led until 4th, prominent, no impression approaching 4 out, weakened before next, mistake 2 out
tracked leaders, took keen hold, not fluent 1st or 3rd, led after 8th, ridden and headed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, 2nd beaten when fell last
held up in rear, pulled hard, jumped right 2nd, headway approaching 9th, went 2nd 11th, hit next, led 3 out, not fluent 2 out, clear last, easily
held up in 5th, not fluent and reminder 8th, outpaced from 13th, well held after, stayed on from 2 out, left 3rd last
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, hit 12th, went 5th 13th, chased clear leading pair 4 out, jumped left 2 out, left 2nd when mistake last, no chance with winner
prominent, not fluent 2nd, outpaced after 12th, well held fom next, left 4th last
GIORGIO QUERCUS has the beating of Stagecoach Pearl on their run together behind Captain Chris in the Arkle at Cheltenham and won over 2m2f over hurdles in France. He gets a tentative vote here, though stablemate Nadiya De La Vega could run him close with her mare's allowance as she has already won at Warwick and Kempton this season and was heavily eased last time in a novices' handicap at The Festival. Premier Sagas was pulled up in that race but should do better on this more conventional track while it would be no surprise to see Soft Spoken Guy run a lot better than his current rating might suggest.
Giorgio Quercus (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Held up in last trio, struggling 8th, weakened 3 out, 6th of 10, 33l behind Captain Chris (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Premier Sagas (FR) 20-1 (11-11) Mid-division, lost place 5th, behind when pulled up before 8th, in a race won by Divers (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar, 20 ran.
Stagecoach Pearl 40-1 (11-7) Led to 8th, chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Captain Chris (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd in Mar.
Gilbarry (IRE) 22-1 (11-4) Hampered 1st, held up in 5th off the pace after and not fluent, reminders after 7th, weakened well before 3 out, 5th of 7, 46l behind Finian's Rainbow (11-4) at Aintree 2m nov chs G1 (1) gd.
Nadiya De La Vega (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, led 5th to 10th, led again 12th, hit and headed 3 out, weakened from next, 11th of 20, 21l behind Divers (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) gd in Mar.
Sam Lord 85-40 (11-5) Tracked leader, joined leader 6th, blundered next, led soon after, headed next, ridden and outpaced by winner from 2 out, 2nd of 3, 19l behind The Knoxs (11-5) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (4) gs in Mar.
Soft Spoken Guy (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) With leader, led 14th, clear approaching 2 out, eased after last, very easy, won at Kelso 3m 1f nov chs (4) gs beating Flying Doctor (11-2) by 25l, 5 ran.
