held up in rear, headway on inside 7th, led 4 out, in tight and headed 3 out, weakened flat
tracked leader, led 13th, not fluent and headed 4 out, led 3 out, headed post
held up towards rear, not fluent 10th, headway next, stayed on same pace from 4 out, went 3rd flat
held up in mid-division, mistake 4th and lost place, not clear run after 4 out, headway approaching next, 3rd before 2 out, 2nd flat, stayed on well, led post
led, stumbled and rider lost iron briefly 1st, headed 13th, mistake 4 out, weakened before next, pulled up approaching last
mid-division on inside, headway after 3rd, mistake 10th, lost place 13th, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, headway 6th, mistake 8th, ridden 11th, mistake 12th, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, lost place 8th, headway after 10th, no extra 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 4th, hit 5th, not fluent 7th, tailed off 10th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division on outside, lost place after 7th, struggling 12th, well beaten after 4 out
Former Grade 3 winner UNIONISTE makes his hunter chase debut in this and will take all the beating if anywhere near his best, though was disappointing in four runs under Rules last season. Opening Batsman is two years older but has also won at Grade 3 level and has a decent amateur on board. Princely Player would have every chance at the weights and was second between the flags last month. Bear's Affair won a point at Cottenham recently and Premier Portrait won an Open at Wadebridge and has already won three times under Rules.
Opening Batsman (IRE) 15-8 (11-12) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, 2nd 5th, led before 11th, hard pressed 3 out, headed after next, edged right and bumped rival when still challenging last, stayed on under pressure to lead again last strides, won at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Gowanauthat (11-7) by nk, 3 ran.
Unioniste (FR) 33-1 (11-8) Mid-division, chased leaders 5th to before 12th, soon behind, no danger after, 9th of 24, 17 1/4l behind Domesday Book (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 3-1 (12-7) Hdwy 15; led last; all out, won at Cottenham 3m in Dec beating Full Trottle (12-7) by hd, 9 ran.
Premier Portrait (IRE) 2-1fav (12-7) (cp) lost plce 5; str run 3 out; led aft nxt; held on wl nr fin, won at Wadebridge 3m sft in Dec beating The Dapper Fox (11-9) by 1 3/4l, 12 ran.
Imperial Circus (IRE) 11-1 (12-0) Led to 12; outpcd 4 out, 5th of 10, 16 1/4l behind Sacre Toi (12-4) at Cothelstone 3m in May.
Milosam (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) In tch til wknd 12; pu aft 14, at Wadebridge 3m sft in Dec.
Princely Player (IRE) 6-4 (12-0) Hdwy 7; outpcd 15; kpt on wl 2 out; just failed, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Fortune Bound (12-0) at Larkhill 3m in Dec.
The Lizard King (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) (cp) chsd wnr to 13; wknd 3 out, 3rd of 5, 32l behind Moreece (12-0) at Bishops Court 3m gs in Nov.
U Me And Them (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Tracked winner, jumped right and not fluent 10th, mistake and lost 2nd next, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before next, at Towcester 3m hcp (5) gf in Oct.
Vincitore (FR) 33-1 (11-5) (tt) a bhnd; t.o, 10th of 19, dist behind Iberico (11-13) at Barbury Racecourse 3m gs in Nov.
