mid-division, headway 7th, mistake 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, beaten 5th when hampered 2 out, weakened before last
held up in rear, headway when mistake 3 out, soon ridden, went 4th and jumped right 2 out, no impression, well held and jumped right last
led until after 1st, chased leader, jumped right 3rd, lost 2nd before mistake next, blundered and weakened next, pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway 3 out, 3rd 2 out, switched right before last, led flat, won going away
chased leaders, challenged 4 out, led next, not fluent 2 out, shaken up when lunged at last, headed flat, no impression towards finish
held up in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, went wrong and pulled up after 4th
mid-division on outside, closed before 4th, every chance 3 out, 3rd and held from last, one pace
jumped left and not always fluent, always behind
jumped right at times, led after 1st, headed 3 out, soon beaten
Secret Melody is the sole course and distance winner in the line-up but hasn't been seen since August and is also 3lb out of the handicap. Pistol Park looked backed to somewhere near to his best three starts back but has disappointed again since. Crooks Peak, steadily getting closer, should be in the mix along with the consistent Tierra Verde, who has taken well to the larger obstacles so far. But DISCKO DES PLAGES is another who hardly knows how to run a bad race and he seems highly likely to enjoy this drop back to an extended 2m1f - the booking of Brian Hughes is another positive.
Swift Crusador 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out(normal 3 out) kept on same pace, 3rd of 5, 14l behind Hes No Trouble (11-0) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Pistol Park (FR) 11-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden 3 out, made no impression from next, 6th of 10, 16l behind Halcyon Days (10-3) at Carlisle 2m hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Crooks Peak 7-2 (11-0) Raced keenly in last, closed 3 out, switched left and bumped after 2 out, every chance last, 3rd and no extra close home, 3rd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Art Approval (11-5) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) gf in Apr.
Elixir Du Gouet (FR) 11-2 (11-11) Held up well in rear, plugged on in 4th after 13th, weakened and mistake 3 out, 5th of 7, dist behind Bafana Blue (11-12) at Wetherby 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Casa Tall (FR) 3-1 (11-2) Tracked leader in 3rd, not fluent 4 out, travelling well and tracking front 2 when not fluent 3 out, niggled along 2 out, unable to quicken after the last, 3rd of 4, 6 1/4l behind Kap Auteuil (11-11) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Discko Des Plages (FR) 7-4fav (11-12) Held up in rear, mistake 1st, hampered next, headway 6th, went 2nd next, led 9th, headed flat, no impression towards finish, 2nd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Fact Flow (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Tierra Verde 17-2 (11-9) Took a keen hold, tracked leader, led 4 out, nodded on landing 3 out, hard ridden after last, just denied close home, 2nd of 14, nk behind Young O'leary (11-10) at Taunton 2m 2f hcp (5) gd in Mar.
Some Spin (IRE) 12-1 (11-12) Held up, headway into midfield 4 out, ridden before 3 out, no extra, 10th of 15, 23 1/4l behind Harry The Norseman (10-2) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (5) gd in Apr.
French Kiss (IRE) 50-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, led before 4th, clear briefly when hung right before 8th, ran out after 9th, at Newton Abbot 2m 5f hcp (5) gd in Apr.
Secret Melody 8-1 (10-0) Pressed leader, upsides 7th, led 8th, ridden and joined 2 out, narrow advantage last, stayed on strongly run-in, won at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Aug beating Cesar Du Gouet (11-9) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
