tracked leaders, pushed along 6th, not fluent next or 4 out, 3rd and one pace 3 out, went 2nd close home, no chance with winner
tracked leader, challenged 6th, led before next, headed after 4 out, no impression on winner 2 out, lost 2nd close home
led, headed before 7th, not fluent and last next, weakened before 4 out
held up in 4th, closed 6th, went 2nd before 8th, led after 4 out, clear 2 out, easily
Eastlake rallied bravely to land the spoils at Newton Abbot last time and is much-improved this season. But he might face a battle for the lead here from the grey Kealigolane and they could play into the hands of REBEL REBELLION. Paul Nicholls' eight-year-old stays further and won't mind the ground. He may be able to pick off his three rivals if fully recovered from being taken off his feet at Aintree. Ulysse Collonges has done well since arriving from France and was beaten less than a length by the selection's stablemate Toubab at Doncaster last month but is racing from 4lb out of the handicap here.
Rebel Rebellion (IRE) 6-1fav (11-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, headway 8th, shaken up and lost place when mistake 4 out, soon behind, pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Oiseau de Nuit (11-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs G3 (1) gd, 17 ran.
Eastlake (IRE) 4-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 4 out, ridden and headed when rider dropped whip before 2 out, rallied to challenge on outside last, soon led, kept on flat, won at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Mar beating Shangani (11-3) by 1l, 5 ran.
Kealigolane (IRE) 2-1fav (11-5) Led, headed 8 out, in 3rd when blundered badly and unseated rider 7 out, in a race won by Grey Gold (10-12) at Carlisle 2m nov chs (3) hvy in Mar, 5 ran.
Ulysse Collonges (FR) 8-1 (10-6) Disputed 2nd chasing (clear) winner, outright 2nd 3 out, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, always held, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Toubab (11-12) at Doncaster 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Mar.
