behind, hit and ride a last iron 1st, steady headway 8th, not much room after 13th, kept on from 3 out never dangerous
winner, chase leaders mistake 6th, slightly outpaced 13th, rallied 4 out, led 3 out, clear last, pushed out
chase leader, blundered 12th, led after next, ridden and headed 3 out, no extra flat
mid-division, headway 12th, ridden and 5 lenghs down in 4th when mistaken and unseated rider 3 out
led blundered 3rd and 12th headed after 13th, fell next
in touch mistake 6th, ridden 4 out, weakened approaching last
always towards rear, mistake 6th, tailed off and pulled up 4 out
alway towards rear
always behind
prominent to 10th, behind 4 out, blundered 3 out
always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
mistakes, always behind, tailed off and pulled up before 10th
towards rear, ridden after 9th, never dangerous
mid-division ,weakening when mistake 12th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
always towards rear, tailed off and pulled before 4 out
This better ground should suit Montifault and he is expected to bounce back from last month's below par run at in the Champion Hunters' Chase at Cheltenham. Quick Step, Longstone Boy and Willy Willy can scrap it out for the best of the rest, while Wahiba Sands could be worth monitoring for each way money at this level. Those with long memories will remember the former Martin Pipe inmate getting the better of Best Mate at Ascot in 2001; which underlined the touch of class he showed when he was at his best. However, he has lost a fair bit of zest for the game since then and now finds himself plying his trade for Lucy Bridges. The Dorset-based handler has coaxed a couple of fair efforts out of him in point-to-points lately and he could still have a surprise up his sleeve. Quick Step won a couple of chases for Peter Bowen and should have no trouble back over regulation fences. He makes more appeal than Longstone Boy, whose jumping errors resurfaced last time out and he remains one to be wary of. Willy Willy was a shock winner at Hereford last month but is not certain to reproduce the goods in this better company. Therefore, we stick with Montifault, who would have hacked all over these in his heyday and, as he still retains plenty of ability, he is expected to be too tough to handle today.
Enitsag (FR) 6-1 In touch, challenged 4 out, jumped right next, chased winner last, kept on under pressure flat, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Galway at Cheltenham 2m hts chs (H) gd in Apr.
Longstone Boy (IRE) 3-1 unseated rider in race won by Double Ange at Cold Harbour 3m ptp gd, 6 ran.
Montifault (FR) 9-2 Led, not fluent 14th, hit 15th headed 18th, weakened 3 out, tailed off when pulled up at the last in race won by Mister Friday at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (H) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Step Quick (IRE) Evensfav won at Hackwood Park 3m ptp gf in Mar beating Court Alert by 12l, 5 ran.
Waterlaw (IRE) 8-1 pulled up in race won by Cannon Bridge at Erw Lon 3m ptp gs in Apr, 5 ran.
Willy Willy 20-1 Always prominent, led 2 out, ridden out, won at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (H) gf in Apr beating Wings of Hope by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Fairtoto 8-1 2nd of 7, 3l behind Stretching at Brampton Bryan 3m ptp gs in Apr.
Wahiba Sands 2-1 2nd of 5, 5l behind Another Copper at Holnicote 3m ptp frm.
