tracked leader, not fluent 4th, joined leader 8th, led narrowly when not fluent 3 out, disputed lead 2 out, headed after 2 out, no extra and weakened closing stages
towards rear, headway and tracked leaders approaching 3 out, mistake 3 out, made challenge when bad mistake and fell 2 out
prominent, tracked leader after the 3rd, weakened to last after 4 out, tailed off home straight
tracked leader, pushed along when headway and made strong challenge 2 out, led briefly run to the last, disputed lead and every chance last, ridden and prolonged duel run-in, led post
held up towards rear, not fluent 3 out, pushed along and chased leaders 2 out, ridden and went 3rd after the last but no match for the front two
jumped right throughout, prominent, led after the 3rd, joined in the lead 8th, pushed along 3 out, headed briefly after 2 out, ridden and rallied to dispute lead last, prolonged duel run-in, held post
ONTHEFRONTFOOT (NAP) is the only one of these to have won over fences. Donald McCain’s charge was beaten by a high rated rival in novice company here last time but won a handicap chase on good ground at Kempton before that and gets another chance. Statuario placed over the larger obstacles at Warwick recently but the remainder make their chasing debuts with Witness Protection preferred to Midnights' Gift having run well behind the progressive Faivoir over timber at Cheltenham last month.
Witness Protection (IRE) 8-1 (11-4) Held up in last, not fluent 6th, smooth headway after 2 out and tracked leader, every chance when made challenge last, always held when ridden on the run-in, 2nd of 4, 2 3/4l behind Faivoir (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 4f (2) gd in Apr.
Midnights' Gift 8-1 (11-5) Held up, not fluent 3rd, effort 3 out, went 2nd 2 out until before last, weakened flat, 4th of 6, 13 3/4l behind Scaramanga (11-12) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Ashington 13-2 (10-13) Pressed leader, switched wide and led narrowly 4th, headed marginally 7th, ridden before 3 out, hit last, weakened flat, 5th of 7, 10l behind Bass Rock (10-1) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Onthefrontfoot (IRE) 3-1 (11-4) Chased easy winner throughout and clear of rest, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and well held before next, mistake 2 out, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Fidelio Vallis (11-4) at Southwell 2m (4) gd in Apr.
The Bees Knees (IRE) 3-1fav (11-11) Close-up, outpaced when ridden before 2 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 11, 20 1/4l behind Historic Heart (11-9) at Perth 2m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Statuario 4-1 (11-9) Tracked leader, led 3 out, headed 2 out, led again narrowly after last, headed close home, 2nd of 6, shd behind Hazzaar (11-10) at Warwick 2m hcp (4) gs in May.
