slight lead, narrowly headed after 6th, stayed well there, 3rd and challenging when driven and hung right from 3 out, kept on well to press for 2nd near finish, no chance with winner
chased leaders, stumbled badly 8th, driven in 4th before 3 out, stayed on same pace after
always behind, pushed along after 5th, struggling 7th, tailed off
chased leaders, challenged from 8th, weakened into 5th when driven and jumped badly right 3 out, weakened
with leaders, narrow lead after 6th, not fluent next, not fluent 4 out, ridden and headed approaching 2 out, well held before last, kept on well to hold 2nd near finish
never travelling or jumping with any fluency, always in rear, tailed off
always prominent, led approaching 2 out, clear before last, stayed on well
pressed leader until after 6th, ridden along after 8th, lost touch 4 out, tailed off
always in rear, ridden and struggling after 8th, tailed off, broke blood vessel
Nonrunner
A competitive finale in which ALECIA is selected ahead of Glengarra and Majy D'auteuil. The selection unseated her rider at Towcester last month on her return from a break but she is quickly turned out again here and she looks to have been found a good opportunity to get her head in front. Glengarra looks the obvious alternative as he won well over this course and distance last month, but this looks more competitive and on that basis he is passed over. Majy D'auteuil has yet to win over fences in Britain and although he is a capable performer, he is prone to making mistakes and he does come with an element of risk. Smoke Trail is back on a fair mark and he ran well when chasing home Kilrogan at Taunton back in April. He is another worth considering, but Alecia looks a safer bet and she gets the vote.
Caliban (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Prominent, lost place 7th, driven 12th, no chance from next, tailed off, 8th of 11, 46l behind Dead Or Alive (11-9) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in May.
Brousse En Feux (FR) 20-1 (11-10) Mid-division, headway after 5th, went 3rd 7th, ridden approaching 4 out, weakened 3 out, 5th of 11, 44l behind Line Artic (11-7) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gf in May.
Smoke Trail (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 5th, led 8th to next, ridden and no impression on winner after 3 out, 2nd of 4, 10l behind Kilrogan (11-2) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-130 (3) fm in Apr.
The Tailor Carey (IRE) (12-0) Led 9; in comm 2 out, won at Tweseldown 3m ptp in Apr beating Elenas River (12-5) by 10l, 3 ran.
Glengarra (IRE) 3-1fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 5th, made rest, clear from 3 out, easily, won at Fontwell 2m 2f sell hcp chs 0-90 (5) gf in May beating Sebber Bridge (10-6) by 7l, 8 ran.
Alecia (IRE) 7-2 (10-7) Mistake and unseated rider 1st, in a race won by Mystic Storm (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f mdn chs (4) gf in May, 9 ran.
Majy D'auteuil (FR) 11-2fav (11-11) Held up in touch, led on inside after 9th, made rest until blundered and headed 3 out, beaten next, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Ilewin Tom (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gf in May.
Crystal Prince 15-2 (11-5) In touch, not fluent 6th, ridden 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 4th of 8, 34l behind Guns of Love (9-12) at Wincanton 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May.
Lutin Collonges (FR) 20-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway and in touch travelling well approaching 4 out, soon ridden and weakened, 5th of 13, 16l behind Ilewin Tom (10-0) at Fontwell 2m 4f hcp chs 0-85 (5) gf in May.
Lethal Gun (IRE) 33-1 (10-5) Held up, no chance from 4 out, 6th of 8, well behind Come Out Firing (11-9) at Newton Abbot 2m nov hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in May.
