led, headed approaching 5th, chased leader until 7th, stayed in 3rd until hit 11th and weakened , went modest 4th 2 out, went 3rd approaching last, no chance with leading duo
in last pair, blundered 10th, struggling when blundered 12th, tailed off soon after, blundered last
chased leaders, went 3rd after 10th, outpaced by leading duo 4 out, lost modest 3rd 3 out, weakened and pulled up before last
last pair, rear from 4th, losing touch when not fluent 8th, soon tailed off, pulled up before last
tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 7th, travelling best when led 3 out, came readily clear from next, easily
took keen hold in touch, headway 11th, 4th when mistake next, went 3rd 3 out until approaching last, tailed off
tracked leader, led approaching 5th, pushed along when headed 3 out, no chance with winner next
Former smart hurdler Straw Bear has had plenty of chances over fences and appears to be regressing. Over this trip, he's worth taking on again with OSTLAND who had a light campaign over timber last season but ran well in a couple of starts and is expected to do better now he tackles the larger obstacles. Khorun was well beaten on his chase debut at Leicester but will have learned from that and is preferred to Grafite and Pro Pell of the remainder.
Captain Crackers (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Prom to 10; wknd 3 out, 3rd of 4, 32l behind Master T (12-0) at Catsfield 3m ptp fm in Apr.
Grafite 8-1 (10-2) Held up, closed 8th, ridden before 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 9, 32l behind Thelobstercatcher (10-11) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Khorun (GER) 3-1 (10-9) Keen early, tracked winner, joined winner 6th, led 8th, bumped by winner and lost action bend into straight before 4 out, jumped slow and soon headed 2 out, tired quickly, 2nd of 3, 34l behind Swansbrook (11-0) at Leicester 2m 4f beg chase (4) gf in Mar.
Master Alfredo 66-1 (11-0) Held up in rear and keen, fell 9th, in a race won by Tarablaze (11-7) at Bangor 3m nov chs (4) gd in Mar, 6 ran.
Ostland (GER) 11-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, stumbled approaching 3 out, challenged 2 out, soon led, ridden and headed approaching last, no extra towards finish, 4th of 10, 8l behind My Shamwari (10-3) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Pro Pell (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) In touch on inside, ridden after 6th, chased winner next until well before 3 out, soon well held by front pair, demoted to 4th flat, 4th of 8, 23l behind Connectivity (12-0) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Straw Bear (USA) 33-1 (10-7) Mistake 2nd, always behind, 15th of 22, 31l behind Carlito Brigante (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) gd in Mar.
