always behind, tailed off when pulled up 5 out
prominent in chasing group, mistake 6th, blundered and ridden 12th, one pace in modest 6th when hit 2 out
prominent in chasing group, losing place when fell 9th
in touch, left 3rd at 13th, stayed on well under pressure from 2 out, closed on winner near finish, just failed
mid-division, making headway and left 2nd at 13th, closed on winner from 2 out, every chance after last, not quicken near finish
always behind, tailed off
prominent, hit 7th, chasing clear winner when fell 13th
made all, clear 9th, reduced lead before 2 out, hung right, idled and strongly pressed near finish, just held on
never better than mid-division, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
in touch, lost place before 8th, tailed off
behind, headway before 5 out, stayed on, from next, not pace to reach leaders
prominent, weakened 12th, tailed off 5 out
behind, headway from 4 out, kept on flat, nearest finish
always rear division, driven and struggling before 8th, tailed off pulled up before 11th
blundered 8th always behind, tailed off
behind, headway 10th, 4th when hit 5 out, struggling after, tailed off
chased leaders, behind 13th, pulled up before 2 out
MIGHTY MOOSE, Gunship and Killfinnan Castle are our three against the field with the first-named getting a narrow vote. All three of our selection's wins have come over two and a half miles but on this ground he definitely gets three, so he's selected despite the fact there's no denying his form this season hasn't been great - the same can be said for all of these. The gelding is now fully a stone below his last winning mark and if he can jump a little better on ground he likes then a solid effort is to be expected. Gunship rates a danger having taken a fair second last time. He's a course and distance winner running off a mark just 2lbs higher than his last winning one, so plenty will side with this horse despite the fact his winning form has come on testing ground. He has placed on good though and clearly must enter calculations in a race lacking quality. Killfinnan Castle was a shade disappointing at Fontwell last time but the winner has since hacked up giving the form a solid look and as a seven-year-old there could be more to come. In addition the ground will be fine and he's at least won a race this season, so this one could well start favourite and would probably deserve that honour. Gift Of The Gods is a consistent enough mare and was probably just outstayed when fourth over further last time so expect a better effort on ideal ground, our sole concern being she's not yet added to her bumper success. Caspar of Tarsus will prefer this to Towcester and could go well for Andrew Thornton, Huckleberry could improve for the tongue-tie, Bobby Donald is a thorough stayer with place claims and Heart Springs is reasonable on his day, but this poor contest can go to Mighty Moose who looks well treated on last year's form.
Bobby Donald (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Tracked leader, led 4th until 8th, led 9th until after 11th, ridden 14th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 9th of 11, 50l behind Go West (11-9) at Warwick 3m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Mar.
Caspar of Tarsus (IRE) 25-1 (11-5) Reminder start, mid-division, not fluent 2nd, headway 10th, ridden and struggling after next, rallied after 12th, every chance 3 out, no extra flat, 4th of 10, 8l behind Gemini Storm (10-6) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy.
Gift Of The Gods (IRE) 7-2fav (11-4) Chased leaders, reminders after 4th, hit next, lost place before next, ridden 11th, hit 13th, rallied 16th, no impression 4 out, went modest 4th after next, 4th of 9, 14l behind Quiet Bob (11-9) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-100 (4) sft in Mar.
Mighty Moose (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) Jumped left at some fences, tracked leader until 2nd, settled in 4th, beaten before 3 out, last of 5, 23l behind Master Cobbler (11-2) at Wincanton 3m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Mar.
Heart Springs 14-1 (11-0) Held up well in rear, mistake 8th, led 13, narrowly headed 3 out, weakened next, 4th of 8, 13l behind Mr Big (11-12) at Sandown 3m am chs 0-130 (3) sft in Feb.
Saint Par (FR) 20-1 (10-12) Held up, weakened from 4 out, 5th of 15, 32l behind Fleur De Vassy (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gs in Mar.
Nearly A Breeze 11-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden before 8th, lost place when not fluent 12th, weakening when mistake next, 5th of 9, 42l behind Vamizi (11-5) at Exeter 3m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar.
Gunship (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Led to 6th, led again approaching 10th, headed briefly 11th, headed after 2 out, one pace, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Backfromthecongo (11-9) at Ffos Las 3m hcp ch 0-95 (5) gd in Mar.
Killfinnan Castle (IRE) 9-4 (10-13) Tracked leaders in 3rd, blundered 5 out, ridden approaching 3 out, no impression, 3rd of 4, 21l behind Kappelhoff (10-2) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Mar.
Huckleberry (IRE) 14-1 (9-11) Mid-division, headway 4th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 23l behind Gemini Storm (10-6) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-100 (4) hvy.
Whatcanisay 16-1 (10-8) Chased leaders, weakened approaching 16th, pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Incentivise (10-9) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar, 14 ran.
Blunham Hill (IRE) 50-1 (9-7) Mid-division, pushed along after 4th, soon lost place, pulled up before 7th, in a race won by Lucky Luk (10-13) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in May, 11 ran.
Lonesome Boatman (IRE) 16-1 (10-1) Towards rear, heaway to chase leaders 11th, lost place 14th, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Man of The Moment (11-6) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Mar, 14 ran.
Mr Guppy (IRE) 22-1 (10-4) In touch, ridden and weakened approaching 3 out, 7th of 15, 40l behind Fleur De Vassy (11-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f cnd hcp hdl 0-85 (5) gs in Mar.
Colinette 25-1 (10-12) Always in rear, 5th of 11, well behind Abbey Dore (10-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hcp chs 0-85 (5) sft in Mar.
Billybo 8-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway 14th, weakened 5 out, tailed off, 8th of 14, well behind Incentivise (10-9) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Mar.
Mr Parson (IRE) 6-1 (10-0) Led, reminders at various stages, headed 3 out, soon no impression in 3rd, 3rd of 7, 14l behind Gemini Storm (11-5) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft in Mar.
