raced keenly towards rear, struggling 8th, lost touch next, pulled up before 11th
led, pecked slightly 2nd, ridden and headed 10th, weakened after next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
held up in mid-division, slightly hampered 6th, headway approaching next, led 10th, easily drew clear from 4 out, eased flat
held up in touch, blundered 9th, no chance with winner but disputed 2nd from 4 out until last, weakened flat
in touch, mistake 5th, weakened after 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
chased leader to 4th, losing place when mistake 7th, soon in rear, went poor 4th 2 out
held up towards rear, headway 9th, no chance with winner but disputed 2nd from 4 out
held up in rear, reminder 5th, headway approaching 8th, weakened 11th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
prominent, jumped right 6th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
keen early, in rear, no chance from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out, dismounted
Nonrunner
Kaldouas has been running consistently well of late and the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding is entitled to be thereabouts off his current mark but he may again have to settle for minor honours and preference is for Sninfia, who gets the vote ahead of Laskari. The last mentioned is closely matched with Kaldouas on a line through Nemetan and ran well when chasing home Nice Try at Bangor last month but a 5lb rise for that effort seems a shade harsh. Winning pointer Strong Weld made an impressive rules debut when landing a beginners' chase at Uttoxeter and he has to be respected on his handicap debut off what seems a fair mark. Peter Bowen's Lankawi has slipped back to a fair mark but has given little sign of encouragement of late, while Eljay's Boy has yet to show the same level of form as he has two seasons ago. The vote then goes to Sninfia who was good value for her win at Bangor last month and she is taken to defy the 12lb rise in the weights for that success.
Bill's Echo 18-1 (10-3) Always behind, lost touch 4 out, 10th of 11, well behind English City (10-6) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gd.
Strong Weld 14-1 (10-7) Made all, drew clear from 4 out, unchallenged, won at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in May beating Seymour Weld (10-11) by 17l, 9 ran.
Kaldouas (FR) 7-2 (11-7) Chased leader, mistake 4th, left in lead 4 out, ridden and headed after 2 out, outpaced approaching last, 3rd of 7, 21l behind Megaton (10-3) at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf in May.
Eljay's Boy 8-1 (11-12) Mid-division, ridden and headway to chase leaders 2 out, went 2nd approaching last, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Beechwood (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd in May.
Allumee 16-1 (11-5) In touch, ridden 3 out, outpaced next, 3rd of 11, 32l behind Scalloway (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Lankawi 12-1 (9-11) Tracked leaders when slipped up on paddock bend after 9th slipped up at the 10th in race won by Brooklyn Brownie (10-6) at Perth 3m hcp chs 0-140 (2) gf, 18 ran.
He's The Gaffer (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Always prominent, kept on one pace from 3 out, 3rd of 10, 11l behind Oumeyade (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Sninfia (IRE) 10-1 (10-9) Held up mid-division, headway to lead 4 out, clear from 2 out, stayed on well, won at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in May beating Investment Affair (11-0) by 12l, 12 ran.
Smoke Trail (IRE) 28-1 (11-10) Chased leader, led 11th to 4 out, soon ridden, weakened quickly next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by John Diamond (11-6) at Wincanton 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Nov, 9 ran.
Guilt 18-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, behind from 8th and fell 4 out in race won by Hold The Bid (11-11) at Market Rasen 2m 6f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Mar, 6 ran.
Laskari (FR) 13-2 (10-6) Held up, steady headway 10th, chased winner approaching 2 out, hung left flat, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Nice Try (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in May.
