always behind, tailed off from 5th
led, headed after 5th, led again 6th, headed and weakened after 11th
towards rear, ridden 8th, never dangerous
in rear, headway 12th, went 3rd 2 out, weakened approaching last
chased leader, led after 5th to 7th, led approaching 5 out, to last headed, rallied to lead again flat, driven out
mid-division, weakening when mistake 10th, soon behind, tailed off, pulled up before 5 out
held up in touch, hit 6th, every chance from mistake 3 out, switched left and led last, hard ridden and headed flat
behind when fell 7th
held up, headway 11th, one pace from 3 out
prominent, ridden after 11th, weakening when mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
held up towards rear, headway 11th, one pace from 3 out
This could be a good opportunity for Luneray to take advantage of a drop in the weights, with Boundary House and Penthouse Minstrel others to consider. The selection was good enough to beat the useful Bambi De L'Orme at Hereford 12 months ago, but was unable to handle the handicapper's assessment of his abilities on his first two starts this season, before a drop brought some placed money. A break after his last start will have freshened him up, he handles trip and ground, and a further 3lb drop now gives him a great chance is a race that shouldn't take too much winning. Boundary House receives plenty of weight from the selection and has taken well enough to fences. He would have been second but for falling on his chasing debut, and put that behind him to jump round into second behind Up The Glen over course and distance last time. He may yet be better over further, but should go very well in this race. Of the others, Penthouse Minstrel shoulders topweight, though the useful Tom Dreaper takes 7lb of that off his back. Ron Hodges' veteran chaser has been running well of late, winning over a similar trip at Wincanton last month, and then just going down again there last time, but a 3lb rise might just be too much for him to cope with, and Luneray is taken to score.
Penthouse Minstrel 12-1 Held up in touch, headway after 17th, outpaced 4 out, ridden and challenged 2 out, every chance run-in, no extra, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Barton May at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gd.
Deliceo (IRE) 12-1 Mid-division, headway on outside 10th, left 3rd 4 out, soon one pace, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Jack Of Spades at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (E) gf.
Luneray (FR) 7-2 Chased leaders, lost place 6th, headway to go 2nd 12th, ridden after next, weakening when mistake 4 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Beau Supreme at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gs in Jan, 7 ran.
The Extra Man (IRE) 11-2 Chased leader, led 10th until approaching 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 11, 22l behind Whitenzo at Exeter 2m 7f hcp chs 0-125 (D) hvy in Mar.
Get The Point 5-2jt-fav With leader, lost place 9th, ridden and weakened 2 out, 4th of 5, 12l behind Harik at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (E) sft in Mar.
Phar City (IRE) 7-1 Chased leader to 5th, stayed chasing leaders until weakened 3 out, 4th of 8, 17l behind Altitude Dancer at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (E) gd in Mar.
Boundary House 4-1 Held up, towards rear, some headway 5 out, ran on approaching last, never nearer, 2nd of 8, 5l behind Up The Glen at Chepstow 2m 3f nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) sft in Mar.
Grandee Line 8-1 Mid-division, headway 5th join leaders, outpaced 9th, hard ridden 12th, chasing leader when jumped left and tired 3 out, 12 lengths down when fell last fell at the last in race won by Kappelhoff at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (F) sf.
