held up, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace
prominent, left in lead 2nd, headed approaching last, one pace
chased leaders, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
led when mistake and unseated rider 2nd
held up, headway on 6th, ridden approaching 3 out, led approaching last, driven out
held up in touch, ridden and challenged after last, not quicken
held up, weakened 5th, blundered next
chased leaders, one pace from 2 out
in touch, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened after next
mid-division, pushed along from 5th, soon struggling
held up towards rear, pushed along 5th, soon struggling
held up towards rear, stayed on from 2 out
held up, effort approaching 3 out, never dangerous
FACTOTUM has made good strides since switching codes and he can do his bit to bring a smile to the face of his owner, JP McManus. China Gold and Risk are forwarded as the best of the rest. Risk began his career on the Flat in France and but has started to get his act together now there are a few obstacles in the way. He comes here on the back of his best effort to date and is likely to make a bold bid from the front. It takes a lot of doing to make all the running at this course, though. China Rock gained a deserved success at Chepstow last month and arguably sets the standard on what they have shown so far. However, he has to concede 7lbs to the selection and a quarter measure will not be good enough. Therefore, it can pay to take a chance with Factotum, who seems to be progressing nicely. Tony McCoy's assistance can never be over valued and the reigning champion (14 times over) is taken to add another notch on his way to retaining his title.
China Gold 7-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, ran on under pressure to lead after last, gamely, won at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr beating Fistral Beach (11-0) by nk, 10 ran.
Freddy's Star (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division until unseated rider 3rd, in a race won by Alfred's Tower (11-5) at Wincanton 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Apr, 13 ran.
Monterrico 12-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders and keen, led approaching 2nd, headed 5th, joined 2 out when left clear, driven out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Factotum (10-8) by 20l, 8 ran.
Alwaysablue 50-1 (11-4) Led, headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 6th of 12, 11l behind Flexi Time (11-1) at Uttoxeter 2m NH flat (6) gf in Apr.
Factotum 11-1 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden, headway after 3 out, hit next, hung right, stayed on well from last, 3rd of 18, 2 3/4l behind You're The Top (11-5) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Marley Roca (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Raced keenly, jumped left, led until hit 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th of 7, 24l behind Wolf Moon (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Nishnash 250-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place halfway, soon hung left and lost touch, tailed off, 13th of 16, well behind Quideo De Touzaine (11-4) at Stratford 2m mdn NH flat (5) gs in Mar.
Risk (IRE) 9-4 (10-13) Led, headed last, no extra flat, 3rd of 9, 10l behind Fortysecond Street (11-6) at Hexham 2m nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Tribe 4-1fav (9-5) Held up well in rear, headway 2f out, beaten when hampered well inside final furlong, 6th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Pseudonym (9-4) at Bath 2m 1f hcap (5) gf in Sep (flat).
Daring Origyn (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, 6th of 15, 24l behind Volador (11-3) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gd in Mar.
Dream In Blue 10-11fav (9-12) Tracked leaders, ridden over 4f out, stayed on to take 2nd well inside final furlong, not troubled winner, 2nd of 11, 1 1/4l behind Simonside (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (5) pol in Mar (flat).
Montevetro 11-1 (8-11) Always behind, 8th of 11, 24l behind Blue Jet (9-7) at Haydock 1m 6f sll stks (4) in Sep (flat).
Strong Market 200-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 3rd, headed approaching 3 out when stumbled and fell, in a race won by Erzen (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4yo nov hdl (4) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Aquarian Dancer 16-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, faded well inside, 5th of 13, 4l behind Straight Face (8-12) at Southwell 7f hcp 0-50 (6) fbs in Mar (flat).
Heronway (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Held up and keen, brief effort 4 out, 9th of 13, well behind Pterodactyl (11-6) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
How's Things 150-1 (11-4) Jumped right and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Treaty Flyer (10-9) at Ludlow 2m clm hdl (4) gd in Apr, 12 ran.
