tracked leaders, jumped right early, bumped 1st, mistake 3rd, went 2nd 2 out, led before last, driven out
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, lost place and reminder 5th, more reminders after 7th, well behind 9th, pulled up before 11th
held up, headway after 7th, mistake and weakened 3 out
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, hit 10th, mistake next, soon well beaten, tailed off
prominent, bumped 1st, led next, clear 4th until 10th, headed before last, stayed on
tracked leaders, ridden before 8th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
held up in rear, headway approaching 11th, no impression 3 out
led until 2nd, chased leader until mistake 2 out, 3rd and no impression when hit last
mid-division, reminder after 4th, pushed along 9th, weakened before 4 out, tailed off
Virginia Ash is worth monitoring in betting exchanges as he's potentially well treated over fences. But Listen Boy and Greenlaw may need this while Viking Ridge was never travelling before falling at Southwell last time. Most of the others in this are previous course winners and Russe Blanc could be the pick of them today, ahead of old rival Hollins. ULIS DE VASSY hasn't won at the track and is tried over a longer trip for the first time since arriving from France. However, he was noted staying on over 2m at Kempton last time so it might suit and he's still nicely handicapped on last year's form if he stays.
Listen Boy (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Held up, hampered 3rd, jumped right 6th, headway after next, mistakes 8th and 12th, not fluent 3 out, 3rd and ridden after next, no chance with winner when pressing for 2nd last, 3rd of 8, 10l behind Danandy (10-12) at Stratford 2m 7f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Oct '13.
Viking Ridge (IRE) 11-10fav (11-9) Tracked leading pair until mistake 4th, handy 3rd again before 7th, went left 11th, dropped to last when fell 3 out, in a race won by Abbey Storm (11-4) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd, 4 ran.
Greenlaw 12-1 (10-5) In rear, ridden and headway 4 out, plugged on same pace from next, 3rd of 7, 29l behind Gullinbursti (11-1) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Nov.
Ulis De Vassy (FR) 9-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 3rd, blundered next, blundered and lost place 4 out (usual 5 out), outpaced 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden and kept on on extended run-in, just failed for 3rd near finish, 4th of 6, 7l behind Violets Boy (11-9) at Kempton 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Arctic Ben (IRE) 9-2 (11-6) Led, joined 5 out, ridden and headed 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Ice 'n' Easy (11-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Apr.
Bennys Well (IRE) 11-4 (10-5) With leader, reminder 5th, led narrowly next, headed narrowly after 9th, left in lead again approaching 13th, joined next, fell 16th, in a race won by Blenheim Brook (10-8) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
Crystal Swing 20-1 (11-12) Towards rear, headway after 11th, outpaced after 4 out, closing when hit last, no impression on leaders flat, 7th of 14, 5l behind Mission Complete (11-10) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jun.
Hollins 14-1 (10-13) In rear, mistakes 3rd and 6th, struggling 8th, went remote 4th when mistake 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 7, 33l behind Ballylifen (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Mar.
Russe Blanc (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 8th, went 2nd before jumping right last, stayed on, not able to reach winner, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Riddlestown (11-3) at Towcester 2m 3f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Virginia Ash (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) 7th of 8, 45l behind Storm Alert (11-0) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) sft in Feb.
