held up in rear, headway 4 out, soon outpaced, 6th when blundered next, stayed on under pressure to go 3rd flat, no impression with leading pair
mid-division, headway to track leading pair 5 out, went 2nd next, ridden to challenge between last 2, kept on and every chance until no extra final 50 yards
in touch, blundered 5 out, lost place and pulled up before next
held up behind, chased leaders 4 out, one pace when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
led to 4th, tracked leader, led again after 8th, made rest, ridden and hard pressed between last 2, stayed on under pressure flat, in command final 50 yards
tracked leaders, chased winner 9th to 4 out, kept on same pace from next, no impression when lost 3rd flat
held up behind, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, never on terms
mid-division, headway 5 out, chased leaders next, disputed 3rd 2 out, 4th and held when mistake last
in touch, led 4th to after 8th, lost place next, behind from 4 out
Withdrawn
Rio Gael is the obvious one here following last month's win at Fontwell. The leaders went off too fast that day, however, and Peter Bowen's five-year-old still had to work hard to get on top and is 5lb higher now. Categorical will be all the better for a run on the Flat at Redcar and has already been placed twice around here, though couldn't beat Gansey on better terms at Newcastle in February. Shoreacres and Ackertac still have some scope but the vote goes to FINE PARCHMENT. Taken out of race at Cheltenham last week on account of the fast ground, he looked a decent prospect when scoring in a Grade 3 at Newbury in March and has been given plenty of time to recover from his tumble in the Topham here the following month.
Gansey (IRE) 66-1 (10-0) In rear, hit 19th, always behind, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Beshabar (10-4) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 28 ran.
Fine Parchment (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Held up mid-division, blundered and unseated rider 6th, in a race won by Always Waining (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr, 30 ran.
Ackertac (IRE) 10-1 (10-11) Held up mid-division, headway to chase leaders before 2 out, ridden before last, soon weakened, 10th of 20, 41l behind Battle Group (11-1) at Aintree 3m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Red Admiral (USA) 12-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, mistakes 3rd and 9th, weakened 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out, in a race won by The Nightingale (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs G2 (1) sft in Feb '10, 5 ran.
Hector's Choice (FR) 9-2 (11-9) Held up towards rear, pushed along 8th, weakeend from next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Nikos Extra (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Mar, 7 ran.
Categorical 13-2 (10-12) Led to 4 out, pushed along and soon weakened, 5th of 7, 42l behind Matuhi (11-2) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Cool Operator 7-1 (11-1) Led, mistake 3rd, joined 5th, headed narrowly next, driven and outpaced approaching 3 out, lost place next, soon ridden and weakened, last of 8, 20l behind Russian War (11-12) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-155 (2) gd in Apr.
Rio Gael (IRE) 11-1 (10-9) Held up, not fluent 3rd, headway after 7th, went 2nd 2 out, led towards finish, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Sep beating King Edmund (11-1) by 1l, 14 ran.
Carrietau 16-1 (11-3) Led to 5 out, ridden and weakened before 3 out, 9th of 10, 35l behind Quicuyo (11-7) at Carlisle 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd.
Shoreacres (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Fell 1st, in a race won by Wishfull Thinking (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 5f nov chs gd in May, 17 ran.
