held up towards rear, mistake 1st, headway 10th, outpaced 3 out, stayed on from 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
led until 5th, lost place next, struggling after, well behind 4 out, tailed off
prominent, hampered by loose horse when leading briefly after 9th, lost place 10th, behind 3 out, no impression after
mid-division, headway 3rd, challenged 10th, no impression on winner when mistake 2 out, weakened last
badly hampered 1st, prominent, led 5th until next, led after 9th, headed 11th, one pace from 3 out
tracked leaders, unseated rider 5th
prominent, blundered 1st, tracked leaders, led 6th, headed after 9th, weakened after 2 out, pulled up before last
held up, headway 4th, led 11th, clear 3 out, hit 2 out, not fluent last, easily
held up, headway after 9th, outpaced 4 out, one pace from next, hampered 2 out
Innocent Rebel had Ryman behind when runner-up to Noble Ben at Cheltenham last time and has winning form over C&D. Mustangsallyrally should go well, despite his big weight, but Battlecry is an infrequent winner and his fragile confidence may have been affected by his mishap at Stratford last month. Oca De Thaix is proving very consistent, however, and won't be far away, and Doof has a good record between the flags. But we are going to take a chance on the first-time blinkered JAMES PINE, who is nicely handicapped and looked as though he'd appreciate the drop in distance when weakening 2 out over 3m2f at Cheltenham 12 days ago.
Mustangsallyrally (IRE) 4-1 (12-7) (cp) (tt) hdwy 11; chsd wnr 15; no imp 2 out, 2nd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Overlut (12-7) at Woodford 3m ptp gf in Apr.
Battlecry Evensfav (11-3) Tracked winner, hesitant and lost 2nd 5th, jumped slowly next, close 3rd when slipped up on bend approaching 9th, in a race won by Moment of Madness (11-11) at Stratford 2m 7f hts chs (5) gf in Apr, 6 ran.
Oca De Thaix (FR) 7-2 (11-8) Held up, took keen hold, headway 3rd, not fluent 7th, hit 8th and 11th, mistake 13th (water), went 2nd approaching 2 out until last, one pace, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Billyvoddan (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Ladies Hunter Chase (5yo+) (3) gf.
Ryeman 4-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders, hit 4 out, effort and chance 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace flat, 4th of 13, 9l behind Noble Ben (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hts chs (5) gf.
James Pine (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Prominent, took keen hold, chased winner 16th until 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 9, 20l behind Creevytennant (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gf.
Innocent Rebel (USA) 25-1 (11-3) Led to 3rd, remained in touch, driven and outpaced after 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure to go 2nd at last, always held flat, 2nd of 13, 4l behind Noble Ben (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hts chs (5) gf.
Walter De Wodeland 7-1 (11-5) Led, headed approaching 2 out, hard driven and rallied approaching last, soon weakened, 4th of 13, 21l behind Over The Phone (11-13) at Newton Abbot 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) gs in Mar.
Captain Marlon (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Behind, headway into mid-division 10th, went 3rd when hit 16th, lost place approaching 2 out, soon weakened, 4th of 9, 29l behind Gershwinner (11-7) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hts chs (6) gf.
Doof (IRE) 2-7 (12-0) Led til hdd 15; rallied 2 out; led final 50yds, won at Stafford Cross 3m ptp gf beating Obamarama (12-0) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
