jumped right, led until 3rd, led 6th, headed and bumped 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up, not fluent 12th, headway after 14th, led 4 out, driven and edged right after last, ran on well, drew clear final 100 yards
held up, switched right after 13th, headway from next, hampered 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, every chance last, carried slightly right soon after, no impression final 100 yards
hampered and unseated rider 1st
brought down 1st
prominent, led 3rd until 6th, stayed handy, shaken up after 3 out, weakened before last
chased leaders, driven approching 3 out, one pace and no impression before last
tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, jumped left 6th, pushed along after 9th, not fluent 14th, lost place approaching 4 out, weakening when mistake next, tailed off when refused last
Pantxoa squeezed out one more win in novice company when short-heading Saint Roque at Cheltenham last month but was pulled up off a lower mark when last appearing in a handicap. The step up to 3m here last time suited Shotavodka and he only found one too good. He looks a threat while Ballincurrig was completing a hat-trick at Sandown two weeks ago. He's got another 7lb here but looks the type to keep pulling out more and makes more appeal than King Massini, who looks in the handicapper's grip, and the mare Baby Shine. TIMESAWASTIN is still a maiden over fences and fell last time at Cheltenham but won over hurdles off a higher mark on his only previous run here and may be a bit better handicapped than most of his rivals.
Pantxoa (FR) 11-4 (11-8) Jumped right, made all, ridden before 2 out, soon hard pressed, held on, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gd in Apr beating Saint Roque (11-0) by shd, 5 ran.
Shotavodka (IRE) 12-1 (10-6) Mid-division, tracked leading pair after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden and every chance before last, no extra and well held flat, 2nd of 11, 3l behind No Planning (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Baby Shine (IRE) 15-8fav (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 4 out until after 3 out, 3rd and one pace approaching last, 3rd of 7, 12l behind Me And Ben (9-9) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (1) gd in Apr.
King Massini (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Mid-division, blundered 12th, outpaced 5 out, driven to chase leaders when hampered 3 out, soon weakened, 10th of 19, 24l behind Streams Of Whiskey (10-10) at Haydock 2m 6f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Ballincurrig (IRE) 11-2 (10-8) Held up in touch, challenged 13th, led next, soon headed, led again 3 out, driven and pressed when moved head towards challenger flat, pulled out extra and in command close home, won at Sandown 2m 4f nov chs (2) gs in Apr beating Christopher Wren (11-0) by nk, 8 ran.
Timesawastin (IRE) 12-1 (10-11) Mid-division, fell 4th, in a race won by Indian Castle (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) hvy in Jan, 11 ran.
Green Wizard (IRE) 10-3fav (11-4) Tracked leaders in 4th, went 2nd 6 out, ridden and every chance when fell 4 out, in a race won by Diocles (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr, 8 ran.
Susquehanna River (IRE) 6-1 (10-5) Led, blundered 11th, headed before next, hit 14th, lost place 19th, mistake and weakened 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Rebeccas Choice (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
