held up towards rear, headway after 5th, pushed along before 3 out, 3rd and beaten when not fluent last, weakened flat
took keen hold, soon steadied into mid-division, pecked 4th, driven after next, weakened approaching 3 out
in touch, raced keenly, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out, blundered last
led, jumped right 2nd, hung left after 3 out, driven approaching last, headed flat, no extra
mid-division, jumped slowly 3rd, ridden after 5th, well beaten before 3 out, hanging badly both ways flat
held up towards rear, raced keenly, headway 5th, 4th and weakening when not fluent last
chased leader to 2nd, remained prominent, 2nd again 5th, carried left after 3 out, switched right after 2 out, led flat, ridden clear towards finish
prominent, chased leader 2nd to 5th, soon weakened, tailed off
sweating, prominent, ridden after 3rd, dropped rear when mistake next, soon well behind, tailed off
held up towards rear, struggling after 5th, soon well beaten
always in rear, struggling when jump right 4th, tailing off when jump right next, pulled up before 3 out
SHUT THE BAR appeared to win with a bit in hand at Bangor and is taken to follow up at the main expense of Penyfan Dawn and Vacario. Shut The Bar won half of his starts in bumpers and showed the benefit of his hurdling bow when scoring by a length with the pair finishing clear of the third. He has a penalty to carry as a result and faces stiffer competition but scored cosily and is fancied to go in again. Vacario has ability and improved markedly on his hurdling bow when third at Newton Abbot; the further experience should help to bring him on whilst cheekpieces may also assist. Penyfan Dawn represents top connections and has to be feared despite showing little on his hurdling bow at Wincanton. It remains to be seen how he copes with a marked drop in trip but he won a bumper on firm ground so clearly has ability. Edgebury took a step forwards at Huntingdon and is not dismissed and nor is Kilrogan who has some fair form to his name over fences but we'll side with the progressive Shut The Bar.
Shut The Bar 6-4fav (10-10) Traked leaders, led 3 out, hit next, soon ridden, stayed on and always going well towards finish, won at Bangor 2m 1f NH mdn hdl (4) gs beating Grasscutter (11-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Edgebury 25-1 (10-12) Tracked leader until ridden 2 out, one pace flat, 4th of 9, 8l behind Moment Present (10-8) at Huntingdon 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf.
Hi Tide (IRE) 100-1 (11-0) Held up and keen, some headway after 4th, soon ridden and held, 6th of 10, 29l behind China Gold (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Kilrogan (IRE) 33-1 (11-9) Led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 11, 11l behind Gaelic Flight (10-12) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Pathian Prince 5-2 (12-0) Hdwy 9; led 4 out; sn clr, won at Lydstep 2m 4f ptp in Apr beating Michigan Assassin (12-0) by 6l, 14 ran.
Penyfan Dawn (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Held up, pecked 2nd, mistake 7th, headway after 3 out, soon ridden behind leaders, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 13, 34l behind Boomtown Kat (10-12) at Wincanton 2m 6f nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Vacario (GER) 5-1 (11-0) Led until after 1st, tracked leaders, ridden after 6th, 3rd and held when went left, mistake 2 out, went left last, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Quell The Storm (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f NH mdn hdl (4) gf.
Highland Patriot 50-1 (10-9) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, weakened next, 9th of 11, 46l behind Hazeldene (11-0) at Perth 2m mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Bickwell 200-1 (10-0) in a race won by Award Winner (10-12) at Exeter 2m 3f nov hdl (3) gs in Nov, 17 ran.
Ladette To Lady (IRE) 25-1 (10-9) Held up, raced keenly, struggling over 5f out, tailed off, last of 13, well behind Jenny's Gold (10-7) at Towcester 2m N H flat (5) gs in Apr.
Space Queen 300-1 (10-9) Keen early, in rear, not fluent 4th, lost touch before next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Silk Affair (10-4) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Jan, 8 ran.
Freddy's Star (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Prominent, left in lead 2nd, headed approaching last, one pace, 4th of 14, 8l behind Factotum (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd.
Ski 10-1 (10-12) Led until after 1st, chased leaders, ridden approaching 6th, soon weakened, 7th of 9, well behind Ambrose Princess (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f mrs nov hdl (4) gf.
Karahalla 100-1 (10-0) In touch, ridden and weakened 6f out, tailed off, 8th of 12, well behind Basford Lady (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 1f N H flat (4) gd in Apr.
