chased leaders, hit 4th, pushed along after next, weakened 4 out
towards rear, moderate late headway, never involved
chased leaders, ridden and outpaced approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace before last
chased leaders, ridden and lost place after 6th, weakened after 3 out
always struggling in rear, mistake and ridden 5th, tailed off 4 out,
in touch, pushed along after 6th, soon lost place, tailed off
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, hampered 3 out, chased leaders approaching 2 out, challenged last, disputing lead and every chance run-in, weakened in closing stages
pressed leader and clear of rest, led 5th, hit next, ridden and headed after 4 out, weakened after next, tailed off
behind hit 4 out, moderate late progress, never involved
held up in rear, plugged on from last, never involved
chased leaders until lost place before 4th, in rear when blundered 4 out, plugged on run-in to moderate 5th in closing stages
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon chasing leaders, weakened after 2 out, mistake last
chased clear leading pair, closed 6th, led after 4 out, ridden before narrowly headed just before last, weakened run-in
never better than mid-division, weakened before 3 out, tailed off
held up in mid-division on inside, steady headway approaching 5th, chasing leaders when left in close 2nd 3 out, challenged last, ridden to lead run-in, no extra and headed towards finish
led, headed and hit 5th, chased leader, every chance when fell heavily 3 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, left 3rd 3 out, led just before hit last, headed run-in, rallied gamely to lead again towards finish
held up in mid-division, smooth headway and staying on just behind leaders when brought down 3 out
always behind, tailed off
towards rear, headway 3 out, driven in 6th before next, no impression before last
mid-division, pushed along before 6th, soon behind, tailed off
Nonrunner
The market should be closely monitored here but the maiden Titan De Sarti must have some sort of chance stepping up in trip as Nicky Henderson has won this in three of the last four year. Angles Hill has been knocking on the door while Adelar and Coffee have both won races recently and are preferred to Akbabend and Cinevator over this trip. David Pipe trained last year's winner Decoy and has put TOP WOOD into a handicap for the first time. He may not have beaten much at Chepstow in the spring but has plenty of scope for further improvement and could have been let in lightly here, though his long-term future probably lies over fences. Total Excitement looks the best of the Irish while Saint Roque could go close from the bottom end of the handicap.
Akbabend 3-1 (11-5) Went left start and pushed along to chase leader, led 3rd until next, chased leader until 3 out, soon driven along, rallied to 2nd after 2 out, challenged last, ridden to lead again and hung right flat, won at Southwell 3m clm hdl (4) gs beating Watch The Birdie (9-8) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Waterunder (IRE) 6-5fav (11-9) Mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway approaching 5th, ridden before 2 out, 8 lengtsh 3rd when blundered and unseated rider last, in a race won by Valmari (10-9) at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Feb, 13 ran.
Titan De Sarti (FR) 3-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, pushed along 5th, headway under pressure after 2 out, went 3rd flat, stayed on, 3rd of 12, 5l behind Court Minstrel (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m mdn hdl (3) gs in Oct.
Kings Lodge 16-1 (11-3) Prominent until ridden before 6th, behind next, 8th of 10, 48l behind Grandads Horse (11-12) at Haydock 2m 4f Novice Handicap Hurdle (0-135) (4-8yo) (3) gd in Apr.
High Storm (IRE) 25-1 (10-4) In touch, ridden after 5th, 6th last, stayed on same pace, 6th of 22, 15l behind Dark Lover (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Pure Faith (IRE) 16-1 (11-3) Held up, headway approaching 5th, pushed along and lost place after next, well behind 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Gus Macrae (9-8) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Oct.
Slew Charm (FR) 25-1 (9-10) Waited with, closer order from before 3 out, 5th from next, no impression in 3rd and kept on same pace from before last, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Beef To The Heels (9-3) at Down Royal 2m hcp hdl 0-150 gs.
Top Wood (FR) 5-1 (10-13) Made all, ridden and kept on strongly from 2 out, won at Chepstow 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in Apr beating Ulck Du Lin (11-2) by 2 3/4l, 15 ran.
Adelar (GER) 8-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, ridden after 3 out, never on terms, well beaten 2 out, 8th of 11, 27l behind Vulcanite (11-11) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Oct.
Total Excitement (IRE) 6-1 (11-12) Soon tracked leaders, 4th after 3 out, no extra in 5th from next, kept on same pace, 5th of 14, 10l behind Days Ahead (11-11) at Tramore 2m beg chs sft in Oct.
Riptide 40-1 (11-10) Towards rear, behind 8th, never on terms, 10th of 17, 44l behind Golden Call (11-4) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Feb.
Coffee (IRE) 11-10fav (10-13) In touch on inside, hampered 6th, ridden 2 out, beaten last, weakened flat, 6th of 8, 13l behind Tony Star (11-12) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Oct.
Cinevator (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Made all, driven after 3 out, clear when not fluent 2 out, edged left flat, stayed on strongly, won at Taunton 3m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct beating Green Bank (11-1) by 2 3/4l, 16 ran.
Nafaath (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) In touch, ridden and lost place before 7th, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Hi Note (10-9) at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Sep.
Angles Hill (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, led soon after 3 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, no extra and held before last, lost 2nd flat, 3rd of 15, 4l behind Stars Du Granits (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Oct.
Ambrose Princess (IRE) 28-1 (10-4) Kept away from others at start, led in and got flyer, led, hit 7th, headed after 2 out, weakened flat, 7th of 23, 21l behind Bondage (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs in Oct.
Buck Magic (IRE) 3-1fav (11-0) Towards rear, headway before 3 out, weakened before last, 6th of 15, 21l behind Ruben Cotter (11-5) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft in May.
Saint Roque (FR) 10-3 (10-11) Towards rear, headway 4th, chased leaders until ridden and weakened soon after last, 6th of 14, 42l behind Sainglend (11-1) at Stratford 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Air Chief 14-1 (9-10) in a race won by Torphichen (10-13) at Listowel 2m 4f hcp chs sft in Sep, 7 ran.
Crafty Roberto 14-1 (10-4) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Vulcanite (11-11) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Oct, 11 ran.
Teak (IRE) 9-1 (10-12) Waited with towards rear, closer in 8th 3 out, ridden in 6th before straight, no impression in moderate 5th and kept on same pace from 2 out, 6th of 18, 16l behind Boland's Corner (11-5) at Limerick 2m 6f hcp hdl 80-109 in Oct '11.
Turner Brown (IRE) 7-1 (10-13) Mid-division, mistake and unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Coole Avenue (11-2) at Galway 2m 6f hcp hdl 8Evens30 sft in Oct, 16 ran.
Reggie Perrin 50-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, lost place after 3rd, not fluent 5th, ridden next, not fluent 7th, mistake when behind 3 out, stayed on flat, no chance with leaders, 6th of 14, 17l behind Barbatos (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f nh nov hdl (3) gs in Jan.
Valley Lad (IRE) 9-1 (10-9) Held up, headway 5th, challenged 3 out, led before next, headed last, stayed on, held by winner flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Le Beau Bai (11-12) at Ffos Las 3m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft.
