mid-division, headway 8th, soon chasing leaders, ridden and effort 10th, gradually weakened
mid-division, headway 5th, soon chasing winner, every chance approaching 2 out, challenged again after last, always held
made all, challenged from 3 out, soon driven, kept on well under pressure
soon in rear, never dangerous
tracked winner, under pressure 9th, soon lost place
always towards rear, pulled up after 2 out
chased leaders, under pressure 6th, weakening when not fluent 8th, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, behind when not fluent last
mid-division, headway 9th, chased leaders next, under pressure before 3 out, soon one pace
held up in rear, detached before 3rd, not fluent 8th, some late headway, never nearer
in touch, not fluent 9th, soon under pressure, never dangerous
Strong Weld was still there with every chance before unseating his rider three out at Cheltenham last time and he has every chance in this hunters' chase but a safer option looks to be WHIZZAAR, who gets the verdict with O'Toole rated the best of the rest. The selection has been in good form in point-to-points and in hunter chases of late, winning his last two starts including in this grade at Ascot and he is taken to complete a hat-trick. Dancing Credit has won his last two starts between the flags but this is tougher and of more interest may be recent Ludlow winner Cheeky Lad. Reflector ran well when chasing home Rien A Perdre at Cheltenham earlier this month and is another to consider although a bigger threat is likely to come from O'Toole, who is a consistent performer in this grade and he has every chance if able to reproduce the form shown when second to Rowdy Yeats at Ludlow last month. Preference though is for the in-form Whizzaar, who is taken to win again.
Whizzaar 11-10 (12-0) Made all; impressive, won at Trebudannon 3m ptp in Apr beating Tonic Du Charmil (12-0) by 4l, 9 ran.
Cheeky Lad 15-2 (11-5) Always prominent, went 2nd 9th (water), led 3 out, ridden clear from last, won at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd beating Mcevoy (12-4) by 9l, 6 ran.
Overlut (FR) 5-4 (12-7) Made all; all out, won at Lower Machen 3m ptp beating Misamon (12-7) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Reflector (IRE) 8-1 (11-8) Mid-division, pushed along after 5th briefly, headway approaching 9th, challenging 3 out, chasing winner after, edged left approaching last, one pace flat, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Rien A Perdre (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m hts chs (5) gd.
Strong Weld 10-1 (11-11) Tracked leader, led 4th, hit 5th, ridden when unseated rider 3 out, in a race won by Craiglands (11-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hts chs (5) gd, 18 ran.
All Star (GER) 9-2 (11-12) Held up mid-division, behind when fell 8th, in a race won by Mcevoy (12-6) at Leicester 2m hts chs (6) gs in Mar, 13 ran.
Made In France (FR) 20-1 (11-3) Keen early, soon well behind, blundered 5th, tailed off approaching 10th, 5th of 6, well behind Cheeky Lad (11-5) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd.
Mr Goofy (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) Chased leaders, lost place 5th, mistake 9th, in touch again 11th, ridden after 3 out, 3rd and weakening when hit last, 4th of 7, 14l behind City Affair (11-9) at Aintree 2m 4f nov hts chs (6) gd.
O'Toole (IRE) 13-8fav (12-0) Held up, headway 9th, chased leader approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out, fell last, in a race won by Van Ness (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Pingaro De La Vire (FR) (12-0) Held up; hdwy to chall when ur bend app 2 out, in a race won by Captain's Legacy (12-0) at Godstone 3m ptp in Mar, 7 ran.
Dancing Credit 1-3 (10-7) Made all; rdly, won at Lower Machen 3m ptp beating Mouseen (11-0) by 6l, 4 ran.
Adventino 100-1 (11-7) Mid-division, lost place and hit 5th, hampered 7th, soon hopelessly tailed off, continued, 9th of 13, well behind Van Ness (11-7) at Hereford 2m 3f hts chs (6) gd in Apr.
Bob Justice (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) Ap; kpt on same pce bet last 2, 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Where's My Baby (12-0) at Fakenham Points 3m ptp in Apr.
