held up in rear, not fluent 6th, mistake 11th, hit 13th, soon pulled up
held up towards rear, steady headway from 11th, not much room after 13th, not much room 3 out, led and not fluent 2 out, clear flat, stayed on well
mid-division, headway 10th, weakened before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
with leader, not fluent 8th, led 11th, headed before next, weakened before 3 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, lost place before 7th, pulled up before 11th
chased leaders, lost place 2nd, closed on outside 10th, beaten before 2 out, stayed on same pace
mid-division, closed 2nd, headway after 13th, mistake 3 out, soon beaten
mid-division, headway 13th, weakened before 3 out
held up towards rear, hampered 1st, headway after 13th, 5th 3 out, lost action and pulled up before next
held up towards rear, jumped right and baulked 1st, closed 4th, went 2nd after 13th, 3rd and beaten from 2 out, one pace
tracked leaders, challenged 11th, led before next, jumped left 3 out, headed 2 out, no impression on winner flat
chased leaders, close up 11th, ridden before 3 out, no impression next
always in rear, behind 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, ridden 12th, plugged on from 2 out, never on terms
held up towards rear, blundered badly 4th, pushed along 9th, mistake next, well behind after 13th, not fluent 2 out, stayed on, went 4th flat, nearest finish
held up in rear, mistake 9th, not fluent 12th, headway 3 out, not clear run approaching 2 out, no extra before last
made most until 11th, weakened before 3 out
mid-division, ridden 13th, headway under pressure 3 out, no impression 2 out, well beaten when mistake last
The day’s feature has attracted a very strong line-up with the weights headed by the 2014 winner The Romford Pele, who is on a hat-trick. Henllan Harri, who beat Beeves at Perth, won the bet365 Gold Cup in 2017 and was later fourth in this off today’s mark. Virgilio beat WINTER LION (NAP) by a length over 3m1f at Aintree with Another Hero a well-beaten fourth but Fergal O’Brien’s charge, who remains unexposed over fences, was closing at the finish and, on better terms, can turn the tables. He’s also preferred to Kelso scorer Stellar Notion and Geordie Des Champs, who came unstuck off this mark when chasing a hat-trick at Sandown. Ballyalton is looking well treated but is probably best at distances short of 3m. Recent winners Drumlee Sunset, Bugsie Malone and Good Man Vinnie will all need to improve again to be competitive at this level while Gas Line Boy is best watched on his first run since tailed off in the Grand National.
The Romford Pele (IRE) 15-8fav (11-12) Raced wide, chased leaders, led approaching 4 out, clear when mistake last, ridden out, won at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (2) gd in Dec beating Fox Appeal (11-6) by 3 1/2l, 6 ran.
Virgilio (FR) 2-1fav (11-12) 2nd or 3rd, led after 2 out, stayed on, driven out, won at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in May beating Winter Lion (10-7) by 1l, 7 ran.
Gas Line Boy (IRE) 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division on inside, pecked 24th (2nd valentines), chased leaders after 3 out, outpaced before next, no impression, 7th of 38, dist behind Tiger Roll (10-13) at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Beeves (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Early reminders, with leader, led 2nd, joined after 11th, ridden and headed narrowly 2 out, kept on and every chance flat, no extra and held when switched left closing stages, 2nd of 11, 2l behind Henllan Harri (10-7) at Perth 3m hcp (2) gd in Jun.
Stellar Notion (IRE) 11-4fav (12-6) Made all, clear from 2 out, kept on well, won at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in May beating Blue Kascade (11-3) by 6l, 5 ran.
Geordie Des Champs (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Held up, slightly outpaced 9th, rallied into 3rd 4 out, plugged on, 3rd of 11, 12l behind Silverhow (10-11) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Ballyalton (IRE) 9-2 (11-11) Soon led, headed after 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 12, 3 1/4l behind Brave Eagle (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Drumlee Sunset (IRE) 5-1 (11-6) Towards rear and in touch, mistake 3 out, went 2nd from last, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in May beating Lamb Or Cod (10-11) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Another Hero (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) Held up in 4th, closed 14th, mistake 3 out, outpaced next, weakened before last, 4th of 7, 20l behind Virgilio (11-12) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in May.
Relentless Dreamer (IRE) 33-1 (10-1) Towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 19th, driven along in 4th and stayed on same pace from 2 out, 4th of 20, 27 1/2l behind Step Back (10-0) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Henllan Harri (IRE) 6-1 (10-7) Always prominent, joined leader after 11th, led narrowly 2 out, ridden and stayed on under pressure flat, drew clear closing stages, won at Perth 3m hcp (2) gd in Jun beating Beeves (11-12) by 2l, 11 ran.
Sporting Boy (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Tracked leader, led 2nd, made most after, clear before 4 out, ridden turning into straight, soon hard pressed, headed narrowly when blundered and unseated rider last, at Stratford 3m 4f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Silver Man 28-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, mistake and reminder after 4th, lost place after 13th, weakened 5 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, dist behind Ballyboker Breeze (11-9) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Toviere (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 3rd at 6th, stumbled 10th, lost 3rd next, weakened 4 out, 5th of 6, 14 1/2l behind Bugsie Malone (10-8) at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May.
Winter Lion (IRE) 11-4 (10-7) 2nd or 3rd until 14th, rallied 3 out, chased winner when mistake last, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Virgilio (11-12) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in May.
Easy Street (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 5 out, took closer order next, mistake and slipped badly on landing 3 out, soon pulled up, at Fakenham 3m hcp (3) gd in Jun.
Bugsie Malone (IRE) 5-2fav (10-8) Led until 3rd, pressed leader, led again 14th, ridden and went clear 2 out, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 3m hcp (3) gd in May beating Minella Daddy (11-12) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Good Man Vinnie (IRE) 7-2fav (11-1) Soon tracking leaders, went 2nd before 2 out, challenged last, soon led, hung left flat, idled, held on, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in May beating Remind Me Later (11-12) by nk, 11 ran.
