tracked leaders, hampered 7th, led before 2 out, soon headed, one pace in 3rd
led, blundered and headed 5 out
behind, blundered 4 out, soon pulled up, never dangerous
in touch, pushed along and outpaced 7 out, ridden before 3 out, headway before 2 out, led run-in, kept on
mid-division, headway before 3 out, led before 2 out, headed run-in, kept on
towards rear, jumped slow 5th, son detached, hampered 7th, pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, fell heavily 7th
tracked leader, led 5 out, ridden and headed before 3 out, weakened before last
Yala Enki won two Class 2 handicaps last winter and is much better than he showed on his reappearance at Wincanton. Sam Red has made great strides since getting a stamina test and kept pulling out more at Fakenham and he's won on heavy going in the past. Wakanda was well beaten in this a year ago when Bishops Road ran very well to finish fourth. The latter was last seen pulling up in the Grand National but would be a threat if ready for his reappearance. Beware The Bear followed two victories over hurdles with a double over fences but couldn't quite manage to make the transition to better company from his new mark later, a remark that also applies to Our Kaempfer. DEDIGOUT is a speculative choice in an open handicap. A high-class hurdler in his days with Tony Martin, he didn't do quite as well with Gordon Elliott last season but if Micky Hammond has revitalised him he is on a very competitive mark and his young rider's claim is a bonus.
Yala Enki (FR) 8-1 (11-9) Keen tracking leaders, mistake 3rd, soon led, headed 11th, weakened approaching 3 out, blundered next, pulled up before last, at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp lst (1) sft in Nov.
Wakanda (IRE) 5-2 (11-10) Led, challenged 3 out, headed 2 out, ridden before last, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 5, 7l behind As De Mee (11-6) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Our Kaempfer (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Mid-division, blundered 6th, pushed along after 12th, blundered 15th, soon weakened, pulled up before 4 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Beware The Bear (IRE) 9-2fav (11-12) Towards rearm headway after 10th, mistake 14th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden and one pace after 2 out, 4th of 12, 7 3/4l behind Label Des Obeaux (11-12) at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Bishops Road (IRE) 66-1 (10-10) Always behind, weakened 2 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up before last, at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Dedigout (IRE) 66-1 (10-5) Under pressure 13th in last, pulled up before 14th, at Fairyhouse 3m 5f Good - Yielding in Apr.
Sam Red (FR) 13-8 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd at 11th, left clear 3 out, pressed next, ridden and stayed on gamely, won at Fakenham 3m (3) gd in Oct beating Thumb Stone Blues (11-2) by 4l, 4 ran.
Boric 16-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, headway before 3 out, chased winner before last, kept on and held near finish, 2nd of 13, nk behind Audacious Plan (11-0) at Sedgefield 3m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
