chased leaders, effort 3 out, ridden and weakened next
held up behind, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, hung left and kept on flat
chased leaders, ridden after 3 out, soon weakened
mid-division, driven 5th, soon struggling, tailed off 3 out
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and kept on from next, no impression
raced keenly in touch, outpaced 3 out, soon weakened
held up, always towards rear
keen early, towards rear, struggling 4th, pulled up before next
mid-division, weakened 3 out
prominent, lost place 4 out, soon weakened, behind when pulled up before 2 out
towards rear, headway under pressure 3 out, ridden and staying on when hit next, never nearer
led, ridden last, kept on until headed and no extra flat
held up mid-division, steady headway after {} 4 out, went 2nd between last 2, hard ridden and stayed on to lead flat
in rear when fell 5th
mid-division, headway 5th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, driven and outpaced 4 out, soon outpaced, weakening when hit 2 out
close up on outside, ridden and effort 2 out, kept on same pace approaching last
close up on inside, weakened 3 out
always behind, tailed off
held up, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous
held up, effort 3 out, ridden and weakened next
behind until kept on from 2 out, never nearer
held up mid-division, headway 2 out, ridden and effort on outside approaching last, kept on flat
Leslingtaylor, Pterodactyl and SECRET TUNE are the three against the field in this highly competitive affair, with Secret Tune taken to collect. Leslingtaylor took this race two years ago but has struggled with his hurdles mark since. He did land a good contest at Doncaster in February over fences however. He comes to hand at this time of year but will need to produce a lifetime best to win. Secret Tune, a son of Derby winner Generous, has been progressive of late, finishing a god second last time when chasing a hat trick. He has gone flying up the weights, but he looks reasonably treated here and can go well. A dual Flat winner in France, Pterodactyl has landed two novice hurdles at Towcester recently. He seems to have got the hang of things after a slow start and looks a typical Venetia Williams improver. Secret Tune has the necessary class to take this.
Harper Valley (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Led, headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure flat, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Noble Alan (10-5) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Gr2 (1) gd in Apr.
Khyber Kim 40-1 (11-5) Held up in rear, mistake 8th, pushed along on wide outside before 3 out, never in contention, 11th of 22, 28l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-0) at Aintree 2m 4f Listed hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Secret Tune 16-1 (10-4) In touch, headway to lead 2 out, headed last, ridden and kept on flat, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Noble Alan (10-5) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Gr2 (1) gd in Apr.
Wingman (IRE) 9-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, went 2nd 4th, led 4 out, strongly pressed last, headed and no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Secret Tune (11-6) at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Mar.
First Point (GER) 7-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, steady headway from 5th, went second 2 out, challenged and edged left last, soon hung right flat and 3 lengths down, stayed on under strong pressure to lead last strides, won at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Apr beating Leamington Lad (11-3) by nk, 9 ran.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Mid-division, ridden approaching 9th, held when blundered 2 out, 4th of 8, 16l behind Pepsyrock (10-4) at Ayr 2m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Schelm (GER) 20-1 (11-7) Mid-division best, pulled up before 6 out, in a race won by Line Ball (11-0) at Cork 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-140 sft in Apr, 20 ran.
Proper (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) Keen tracking leaders, ridden to lead after 3 out, headed when hit next, hit last, kept on same pace, 4th of 18, 5l behind You're The Top (11-5) at Kempton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Leamington Lad (IRE) 10-1 (11-3) Led and clear until approaching 2 out, ridden after 2 out, driven 3 lengths clear flat, caught last strides, 2nd of 9, nk behind First Point (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Apr.
Top Mark 11-2 (11-8) Held up, ridden and headway 3 out, led next, hung left under pressure flat, held on towards finish, won at Perth 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr beating Toshi (11-3) by nk, 10 ran.
Pterodactyl (IRE) 13-8 (11-6) In touch, ridden to lead 2 out, ran on strongly, won at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Busker Royal (11-3) by 3 1/2l, 13 ran.
Cockney Trucker (IRE) 17-2 (10-9) Chased leaders, hit 3rd, ridden and every chance approaching last, kept on, 3rd of 27, 14l behind American Trilogy (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Ellerslie Tom 9-2 (11-0) Made all, mistake 3 out, stayed on gamely flat, won at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gf in Apr beating Oceana Gold (11-1) by 1 3/4l, 8 ran.
Joe Jo Star 20-1 (10-11) Held up in rear, headway after 6th, tracking leaders going well before 3 out, hanging left before last, stayed on flat, 3rd of 21, 3 1/2l behind Culcabock (11-0) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl 4yo+ (2) gs in Apr.
Oddshoes (IRE) 5-2fav (11-5) Soon tracking leaders, went 2nd 3 out, closed on clear leader to lead next, clear when blundered last, won at Wincanton 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr beating Wade Farm Billy (10-12) by 10l, 13 ran.
Caravel (IRE) 4-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3 out, led last, pushed out, won at Sedgefield 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Apr beating Treeko (10-0) by 5l, 8 ran.
Pascha Bere (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Chased leader, led 6th, ridden 2 out, hit last, soon headed, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind L'Eau Du Nil (11-2) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Danehill Willy (IRE) 10-1 (11-12) Chased leader to 3rd, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up and dismounted soon after 4 out, in a race won by Platin Grounds (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct '07, 14 ran.
Toshi (USA) 13-2 (11-2) Tracked leaders and keen, led 3rd, hit next, ran on well from 2f out, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd beating Prideus (11-9) by 7l, 10 ran.
I Hear A Symphony (IRE) 5-1 (11-11) Never travelling or jumping with any fluency, soon last, stumbled 9th, well behind, well beaten when pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Pepsyrock (10-8) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb, 6 ran.
Dishdasha (IRE) 6-1 (10-12) Held up in touch, mistake 3rd, led approaching 4 out, ran on well, won at Ludlow 2m nov stks (3) gd in Apr beating Postmaster (10-12) by 12l, 8 ran.
Kingscape (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders, joined leaders 2 out, close up last, no extra flat, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Bazart (10-2) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Fairyland (GER) 11-2 (10-9) Raced keenly, in touch, mistake 2nd, lost place approaching 6th, never in contention after, 11th of 21, 21l behind Culcabock (11-0) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl 4yo+ (2) gs in Apr.
Hot Diamond 13-2 (10-4) Held up, headway 6th, ridden from 3 out, stayed on same pace last, 5th of 21, 7l behind Culcabock (11-0) at Aintree 2m cond hcp hdl 4yo+ (2) gs in Apr.
