close up in rear, headway to chase winner 3 out, ridden next, stayed on towards finish
tracked leader, joined leader 7th, led 4 out, ridden out, idled towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, kept on same pace
close up, pushed along 8th, in rear when not fluent next, behind when jumped slow 4 out, tailed off
led, joined 7th, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened 2 out
Nonrunner
A couple of recent winners will likely fight this one out. Royal Salute won at Fontwell just five days ago and should go well again despite carrying 7lb extra. But HUMBEL BEN makes more appeal having landed a couple of higher grade chases recently and the hat-trick looks a distinct possibility for Alan Jones’ charge. Twenty Eight Guns will likely finish closer after last month’s pipe-opener at Hexham but the rest are harder to fancy.
Royal Salute 7-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway 9th, went 2nd and poised to challenge after 4 out, led next, ridden before last, drew clear flat, won at Fontwell 2m 5f hcp (5) sft in Nov beating Bonds Conquest (10-0) by 7l, 9 ran.
Twenty Eight Guns 7-2jfav (11-12) Always towards rear, blundered 3 out, never dangerous, 4th of 10, 17 3/4l behind Quick Brew (11-5) at Hexham 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Mr Bachster (IRE) 11-4 (11-10) Led until after 1st, pressed leader, jumped left and not fluent 6th, slow 8th, ridden next, 4th and tired when pulled up before 2 out, at Fontwell 2m 1f hcp (5) hvy in Apr.
Try It Sometime (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Chased leaders to 8th, no danger after, weakened 5 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, 31 1/2l behind Forever My Friend (11-7) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
The Omen 9-1 (10-6) Always behind, tailed off before 6 out, pulled up before 4 out, at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) gs in Mar.
Humbel Ben (IRE) 13-2 (10-7) In rear, pushed along 5th, headway before 2 out, led before and jumped slightly left last, kept on well, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp (4) gd in Oct beating Winged Express (11-6) by 3l, 8 ran.
