held up in touch in mid-division, headway 3 out, went close 2nd next, driven and every chance last, no impression towards finish
made all, jumped and hung left from 2 out, pressed last, stayed on gamely
held up in mid-division, in touch after 3 out, outpaced next, stayed on flat, unable to challenge
held up in last pair, headway on inside after 3 out, ridden and pressing for 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
tracked winner until before 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders on outside, jumped left 1st, mistake 3 out, 4th and beaten next, weakened before last
held up in last pair, in touch 3 out, ridden and weakened before next, pulled up approaching last
tracked leaders on inside, not fluent 5th, went 2nd 3 out until well before 2 out, soon weakened
Nicky Henderson had five entered at the early stage and relies on topweight Utopie Des Bordes and Barry Geraghty's mount Call The Cops, who looks the pick on his progressive form last season which culminated in a victory at Ludlow. BROTHER BRIAN ended his first campaign over hurdles with victories at Newbury and Cheltenham to his credit and with further progress expected Hughie Morrison's charge looks the one to be on. It was very heavy ground when Westaway landed a handicap at Newbury in March and today's conditions will be very different while Master Malt, after minor victories at Exeter and Ffos Las, has failed to fire when stepped up to this grade on his two latest starts.
Utopie Des Bordes (FR) 5-2fav (11-9) Prominent and tracked leaders, 4th halfway, ridden in 7th after 3 out, no extra from next, 8th of 15, 28l behind Burn And Turn (11-1) at Punchestown 2m 5f hcp chs in May.
Brother Brian (IRE) 11-2 (10-7) Always prominent, led approaching last, went badly left at hurdle, ridden and stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Another Hero (10-6) by 4l, 14 ran.
Call The Cops (IRE) 4-11fav (11-6) Soon tracked leaders, ridden to challenge last, led soon after, kept on, won at Ludlow 2m 5f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Always Archie (10-13) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Royal Regatta (IRE) 11-2 (10-13) Held up, mistake 4th, headway approaching 3 out, every chance next, weakened before last, soon pulled up, in a race won by Brother Brian (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr, 14 ran.
Westaway (IRE) 11-4 (11-4) Made most but pressed and set strong pace, pushed along before 2 out, headed and weakened between last 2, finished tired, 5th of 9, 13l behind Berkeley Barron (11-12) at Sandown 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Mar.
Master Malt 25-1 (9-11) Towards rear, some headway on outside after 3 out, outpaced after next, never on terms, 11th of 17, 25l behind Sybarite (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct.
Megastar 14-1 (10-10) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, lost place next, 11th of 13, 46l behind Ulzana's Raid (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (3) gs in Oct.
Spirit D'armor (FR) 14-1 (10-0) Tracked leader, not fluent 1st, lost 2nd 5th, not fluent next, no extra 2 out, 4th of 7, 13l behind Uncle Jimmy (11-8) at Newton Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl (2) sft in Oct.
