held up in rear, took keen hold, hampered 2nd, jumped right and mistake 4th, mistake 7th, switched right and progress before 12th, bumped 4 out, awkward and weakened 2 out
mid-division, blundered 9th, soon behind, stayed on approaching last, no chance with leaders
held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, hampered 4th, jumped left and not fluent 11th, mistake 11th, headway before 3 out, weakened next
bumped 1st, soon mid-division, headway 8th, mistake 12th, shaken up and tracking leaders when blundered badly and unseated rider 4 out
tracked leaders, switched right after 2 out, led last, driven out
tracked leaders, not fluent 10th, outpaced 3 out, weakened before next
led, hit 2 out, driven and headed last, held flat, stayed on
held up in rear, headway approaching 11th, went 3rd after last, stayed on, unable to get on terms with front pair
mid-division, closed 6th, outpaced 10th, well beaten 4 out
prominent until 3rd, lost place when hit 5th, not fluent 8th, some headway after 10th, ridden and struggling before 12th, well beaten 4 out
tracked leader, ridden after 3 out, lost 2nd before last, no extra flat
Astracad ran well for a long way when fifth at Cheltenham last week, though may be better over shorter trips. Wishfull Thinking won a Grade 2 over track and trip a couple of years ago and is 4lb lower than when runner-up in this 12 months ago while Oiseau De Nuit and Edgardo Sol are other course winners, though both are probably better over 2m. WALKON was second in the Paddy Power last year on his reappearance and didn't run a bad race over fences after that, finishing runner-up in another Grade 3 at Cheltenham before a fifth behind Carrickboy at The Festival and another second in the Topham over the Grand National fences here in April. As he goes well fresh, he is taken to gain a deserved victory. The bottom four are all racing from out of the handicap but Saint Are likes it here and could be a factor if there is a strong pace.
Wishfull Thinking 5-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on to 3rd at the last, no impression on leading duo, 3rd of 10, 6l behind Sire De Grugy (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Oiseau de Nuit (FR) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, headway 6th, chased leaders 4 out, went 3rd 2 out, soon driven, no chance with leading duo when hit last, soon no extra in 4th, 4th of 10, 9l behind Sire De Grugy (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Edgardo Sol (FR) 8-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, ridden and headway when hit last, stayed on flat, 4th of 17, 6l behind Party Rock (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
Walkon (FR) 16-1 (11-7) In touch, tracked leaders 11th (foinavon), effort 2 out, ridden after last, went 2nd at elbow, stayed on well, held near finish, 2nd of 29, 3/4l behind Triolo D'Alene (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr.
Conquisto 10-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, every chance 3 out, stayed on flat, always just held, 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Fairy Rath (10-6) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd in May.
Carrickboy (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Led until 11th, weakened appraching 3 out, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind Champion Court (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gs in Apr.
Astracad (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 4 out, jumped left and hung left from 2 out, stayed on flat, 5th of 16, 5l behind Johns Spirit (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gd.
Viva Colonia (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Towards rear, effort before 3 out, never dangerous, 13th of 16, 44l behind Bobowen (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gf in Jul.
Pure Faith (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, ridden 8th, lost place after next, 15th of 20, 31l behind Trackmate (11-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gd.
Saint Are (FR) 20-1 (11-1) Towards rear struggling 12th, never on terms, 10th of 19, 43l behind Quentin Collonges (10-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Mr Moonshine (IRE) 5-1 (10-5) Led, not fluent 10th, mistake 5 out and when headed 3 out, stayed on, no impression on winner from last, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Bocciani (10-0) at Ayr 2m 4f hcp chs (2) gs in Apr.
