always in rear, lost touch 6th, pulled up before 8th
tracked leaders and keen, hit 8th, not fluent 3 out, ridden and edged left to lead approaching last, soon clear
led, ridden 3 out, headed approaching last and weakened
held up towards rear, headway 4th, not fluent 8th, ridden and every chance 2 out, one pace
prominent, jumped right 1st, lost place 5th, ridden 4 out, stayed on not troubled leaders
in rear, headway 8th, ridden and weakening when hit 3 out
in touch, ridden 8th, weakened approaching next
held up, ridden and weakened 8th
in touch, ridden 8th, weakened approaching next
in touch when fell 5th
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
Wild Power is the one to beat, with Harry Potter, Sir Brastias and Hanko others to consider. Quite a few of these have been disappointing of late, and anybody that backs Predicament will be hoping that he jumps off after his antics at Ludlow. In any case Tony McCoy prefers Hanko who is sure to have been well schooled, but our choice is Wild Power who was successful at Newton Abbot last time. Although the winning margin was only half-a-length, the eight-year-old won a shade comfortably and with Owen Nelmes taking 3lb off his back, a follow-up is very much on the cards in a race that will take little winning. Harry Potter looked held when unseating his pilot at Ludlow but may well have been placed at least and can go close despite topweight, while Sir Brastias has a had a break since putting in a promising effort over timber at Sandown in February. Any support for Kim Bailey's charge in the ring should be noted, but Wild Power is the one to beat.
Harry Potter (GER) 9-4fav (11-0) Chased winner from 4th, 1 length down when hit, slipped and unseated rider 4 out unseated rider 4 out in race won by Rapide Plaisir (11-0) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) gf in Apr, 13 ran.
Sir Brastias 6-1 (11-8) Led, hit 3rd, headed 2 out, rallied flat, held close home, 3rd of 6, 1l behind Danse Macabre (10-7) at Sandown 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-115 (4) sft in Feb.
Appach (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway 7th, chased leader 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 9l behind O'Toole (11-8) at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gf in Apr.
Wild Power (GER) 9-2 (10-7) Chased leaders, challenged from 2 out, chased leader approaching last, pushed along, ran on to lead flat, comfortably, won at N Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gf in Apr beating Jupon Vert (10-10) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Flahive's First 25-1 (10-13) Always behind, tailed off when pulled up at the 11th in race won by Eljay's Boy (10-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Apr, 13 ran.
Ground Breaker 12-1 (11-4) Mid-division, lost place 6th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Bearaway (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gf, 10 ran.
Predicament 11-4 (11-0) Refused to race, took no part refused in race won by Rapide Plaisir (11-0) at Ludlow 2m nov chs (3) gf in Apr, 13 ran.
Lord of The Hill (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Led, raced wide, reminders after 6th, ridden when fell at the 8th in race won by Rookery Lad (11-5) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gf in Apr, 10 ran.
