mid-division, lost place 3rd, not fluent 5th, remote 7th 2 out, plugged on approaching next, no impression
tracked leaders, hit 3rd and lost place, jumped right 6th, well beaten after 3 out
mid-division, headway 4th, not fluent next, challenged 10th, led 4 out, left clear next, stayed on well
tracked leaders on outside, challenged 2nd, led 3rd until after 4th, left 8 lengths 2nd when hampered 3 out, weakened before next where mistake
in rear, hit 7th and unseated rider
prominent, led 6th until 8th, mistake 10th, beaten when hampered 3 out, soon weakened
led until 3rd, led after next until 6th, led 8th, headed 4 out, 1 1/2 lengths off winner when stumbled just after 3 out and fell
mid-division, hit 1st, jumped right next, headway 4 out, never on terms, went 3rd latter stages, no chance with front pair
mid-division on outside, bumped 6th, headway 8th, 3 lengths 3rd when stumbled slightly and unseated rider 4 out
in rear, mistake when hampered 2nd, ridden after 5th, mistake 9th, behind when hampered 4 out, soon pulled up
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 2nd, lost place 10th, closed 3 out, soon went 2nd, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, hampered 2nd, reminder after next, hit 9th, mistake next, well beaten 4 out, pulled up before next
tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place when not fluent 7th, behind when not fluent 10th
Shalamiyr finally came good between the flags 10 days ago but the former Philip Hobbs inmate has a bit to find to overturn earlier Stratford running with both Ice Cool Benny and Dunshane. Lesley Jefford's French import Delta Borget has been running well in point-to-points and could be thereabouts if handling these much stiffer fences but PISTOLET NOIR looks the one to beat. Winner of a Grade 2 hurdle here as a juvenile, he finished a long way clear of Ryeman, Castle Banquet and Dunshane over this trip at Towcester last month and has obvious scope for further improvement.
Ice Cool Benny (IRE) 4-7 (12-7) (cp) hdwy 15; rdn & fnd nil last, 5th of 9, 1 1/2l behind Aqualung (12-0) at Maisemore Park 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Pistolet Noir (FR) 2-1fav (11-5) Prominent, hampered 2nd, mistake next, challenged 8th, led 4 out, clear after 2 out, edged left after last and again towards paddock exit soon after, ridden out, won at Towcester 2m hts chs (6) gd in Apr beating Ryeman (11-12) by 23l, 12 ran.
Rash Move (IRE) 8-11 (11-0) Went 2nd 12; wknd app last, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Ungaro (11-0) at Guilsborough 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Castle Banquet (IRE) 14-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 2nd, led approaching 5th, hit 8th, went wrong and pulled up after next, in a race won by It Was Me (11-9) at Towcester 2m 3f hts chs (6) sft in Apr, 9 ran.
Delta Borget (FR) 7-1 (12-0) Hdwy 9; no imp 14, 3rd of 10, 20l behind Hameldown Tor (12-0) at Cherrybrook 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Dunshane (IRE) 11-4 (11-5) Prominent, jumped left and bumped 2nd, mistake and led 6th, headed next, weakened approaching 2 out where mistake, tailed off, 5th of 12, 40l behind Pistolet Noir (11-5) at Towcester 2m hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
Ronnie Ronalde (IRE) 18-1 (11-0) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 6th, pushed left 4 out, lost 2nd 3 out, went left last, stayed on flat to press for 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Easter Meteor (11-7) at Exeter 2m 3f nov chs (4) gd in Apr.
Rustic John 16-1 (12-0) Led 2-9; fell 11, in a race won by She Is A Cracker (11-11) at Larkhill 3m ptp gf in Apr, 7 ran.
Ryeman 8-1 (11-12) Led until 2nd, tracked leaders, challenged 4 out until after 3 out, soon beaten, one pace, 2nd of 12, 23l behind Pistolet Noir (11-5) at Towcester 2m hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
Shalamiyr (FR) 11-10 (12-5) Held up; stdy hdwy 10; led 15; drew clr aft 2 out; held on wl flat, won at Andoversford 3m ptp gs in Apr beating Big John Macarty (12-5) by 3l, 7 ran.
Swallows Delight (IRE) 8-1 (12-0) Ap; led 14; clr 2 out; held on wl, won at Kingston Blount 3m ptp gf in Mar beating Boddington Lad (12-0) by 2l, 14 ran.
Tallanstown Boy (IRE) 28-1 (11-9) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders 12th, led 4 out, headed before 3 out, weakened before last, 3rd of 13, 29l behind Lorikarad (11-8) at Chepstow 3m hts chs (6) gs in Mar.
Tallow Bridge (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Trckd ldrs til wknd 15, 4th of 11, 24l behind Kirkleigh (12-0) at Upcott Cross 3m ptp gd in Apr.
