made all, clear 2 out, pushed out flat, comfortably
tracked winner, not fluent 7th, driven after 3 out, no impression from next, stayed on
close 2nd or 3rd, not fluent 5 out, ridden 3 out, no impression on winner from next, stayed on, lost 3rd close home
tracked leaders, outpaced 5 out, rallied 2 out, 3rd when mistake last, stayed on towards finish, re-took 3rd close home
held up, not fluent 7th, disputing 4th 5 out, weakened 3 out
held up, lost place before 5 out, soon well beaten
held up in last, not always fluent, pushed along after 11th, well beaten 5 out
There have been some very useful winners of this in recent years, including the top-class Cue Card. His trainer, Colin Tizzard, puts forward Native River today and he was good enough to win a Listed race over hurdles at Exeter last season and run at the Cheltenham Festival. Cocktails At Dawn has already run five times over fences but his victory at Sandown in April means he has to give 8lb to his rivals here. As De Mee won a Grade 3 over timber at Sandown in the spring and will have his supporters while it will be interesting to see if there is any market interest in the returning Racing Pulse. But Regal Encore could find this trip too short and Pearl Swan was in danger of becoming disappointing last term. BLAKLION (NAP) won the Grade 2 Persian War Novices' Hurdle at this meeting last year and, though his form tailed off a little in the spring, he looks a fine prospect over fences having already won between the flags and can take this.
Cocktails At Dawn 15-2 (11-4) Jumped well, chased leader, led 2nd, clear 5th until 8th, came clear again before 3 out, kept on strongly, easily, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Howlongisafoot (11-6) by 26l, 10 ran.
As De Mee (FR) 8-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden before last, one pace and no impression, 6th of 12, 24 1/4l behind Nichols Canyon (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Blaklion 9-1 (11-4) Prominent, ridden 3 out, one pace and beaten from next, left 4th last, no extra flat, 4th of 16, 22 1/2l behind Thistlecrack (11-4) at Aintree 3m (1) gs in Apr.
Native River (IRE) 40-1 (11-7) Prominent, mistake and lost place 6th, weakened after 3 out, 9th of 19, dist behind Martello Tower (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Pearl Swan (FR) 10-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace before last, no impression on leaders, 4th of 10, 6 3/4l behind No Planning (11-8) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) sft in May.
Racing Pulse (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Held up, mistake 1st, ridden after 4 out, no chance with leaders when mistake 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 18, dist behind Beat That (11-4) at Aintree 3m (1) gs in Apr.
Regal Encore (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Behind, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish, 4th of 21, 3/4l behind Taglietelle (11-6) at Aintree 3m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
