held up in rear, headway 6th, not fluent 9th, disputing 2nd when not fluent 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
in touch, mistake 6th, chased winner approaching 3 out, not able to get close enough to challenge, stayed on well towards finish, always held
made all, ridden approaching 3 out, not fluent next, stayed on gamely flat, held on
prominent, reminder after 5th, chased winner when mistake 7th, lost 2nd 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off
took keen hold, pressed winner after 2nd, not fluent 6th, lost 2nd when hampered next, chased winner again 9th until approaching 3 out, weakened before next
steadied start, took keen hold in rear, jumped left from 7th, behind next, tailed off
pressed winner until after 2nd when given reminders, not travel well after, behind 8th, tailed off
towards rear, reminder after 6th, carried left and mistake next, soon behind, tailed off
It is probably unwise to completely rule out the Alner's Randjo but he is hard to back with any confidence on form shown this season and a better bet looks to be AJZAL, who is marginally preferred to Chilbury Hill. Keith Bishop's gelding won well here in March and was there with every chance before unseating his rider three out on his most recent start again over course and distance and he has every chance racing off the same mark today. The Evan Williams-trained Ace High Blue ran better here behind Bollywood last time and he makes more appeal than Compton Star, who has been well held in recent starts. Simon Burrough's Beauchamp Viking has yet to even be placed in 13 starts either on the flat under National Hunt rules so looks best left out of calculations in a race taken to go to Ajzal. Tom George's gelding had become disappointing over fences but ran better until falling at the last at Hereford two starts ago and lost no caste in defeat behind Mad Professor at Southwell last month, form on which he looks the one to beat.
Ace High Blue (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 3rd at 5th, led next, headed after last, no extra, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Bollywood (9-7) at Wincanton 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf in Apr.
Chilbury Hill (IRE) 5-2fav (10-1) Held up in touch, chased leaders 4 out, ridden to challenge when blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Sou'wester (11-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Apr, 6 ran.
Randjo (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Led, headed before 2 out, dropped to 4th and blundered 2 out, soon weakened and eased, 7th of 9, 23l behind Serious Choice (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m 1f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in Apr.
Ajzal (IRE) 11-4 (11-3) With leaders, led approaching 4th, headed approaching 2 out, soon outpaced, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Mad Professor (9-9) at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-95 (5) gd in Apr.
Beauchamp Viking 20-1 (10-11) Always behind, struggling 7th, tailed off when mistake 4 out, 5th of 9, 33l behind Bid Art (11-1) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Apr.
Finnish Melody 20-1 (9-7) Pulled hard, held up in rear, blundered 1st, pulled way up to chase leading trio before 3rd, hit 7th, lost place 9th, soon behind, tailed off, last of 6, well behind Ray Mond (11-4) at Plumpton 2m 4f cond hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
Knightsbridge Hill (IRE) 14-1 (11-0) Led to 13; wknd 15, last of 5, 21l behind Own Line (11-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp fm in Apr.
Compton Star 66-1 (9-9) In touch, lost place before 3 out, 12th of 17, 25l behind Exulto (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Apr.
