tracked leaders, pushed along before 4 out, no impression until headway into 3rd before last, switched right after last, soon ridden and rallied, finished well to lead towards finish
held up in touch, tracked leaders after 5 out, led narrowly next, driven 2 lengths clear last, ridden out flat, kept on, headed towards finish
held up in touch, took closer order on outside after 8th, blundered 12th, lost place 5 out, behind from next
chased leaders to 5th, towards rear, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened from next, tailed off
pressed leader, ridden before 3 out, every chance next, lost place between last, well held when lost 4th flat
tracked leaders, driven and one pace after 3 out, ridden after next, stayed on to take well held 4th flat, no impression
held up in touch, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden to chase leader after 2 out, 2 lengths down last, soon no impression, lost 2nd flat
led, not fluent 8th, headed narrowly 4 out, blundered next, lost place 2 out, soon beaten
It would be no surprise to see Brave Eagle go well, despite having his first run since October, but the penny has finally dropped with COPPER WEST over fences and he was a fairly comfortable winner over a slightly shorter trip here last time, though has been hit with a 10lb rise. Diable De Sivola will surely be winning over the larger obstacles sooner rather than later and Cap Du Nord has rattled up a hat-trick and can also get involved. Wilde Blue Yonder looks the pick of the remainder but is still making errors at crucial times.
Brave Eagle (IRE) 12-1 (11-6) Held up towards rear, effort 5 out, soon ridden, stayed on under pressure flat, took 3rd last stride, 3rd of 12, 4 1/2l behind The Young Master (10-6) at Chepstow 3m hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Huntsman Son (IRE) 33-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, hampered next, headway 10th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before next, 9th of 20, 32l behind A Plus Tard (11-5) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp lst (1) sft in Mar.
Diable De Sivola (FR) 9-2 (11-9) In touch, driven to chase leaders after 3 out, ridden and stayed on to chase winner after last, kept on same pace, no extra in 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Larry (11-12) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Aintree My Dream (FR) 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 9th, closed approaching last, led soon after, asserted towards finish, won at Stratford 2m 3f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Western Miller (11-1) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Tanarpino 10-1 (11-8) Led, headed last, weakened flat, 5th of 11, 12 1/2l behind Bob Mahler (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Wilde Blue Yonder (IRE) 9-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, lost place slightly 9th, headway chasing leaders 14th, travelling well before 3 out, went 2nd 2 out until the last, weakened run-in, 4th of 10, 6 3/4l behind Bob Mahler (11-3) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Mar.
Copper West (IRE) 5-1 (10-4) Tracked leaders, led before 3 out, challenged last, kept on well, won at Haydock 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Princeton Royale (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cap Du Nord (FR) 11-8fav (11-8) Tracked leader until 10th, tracked leader again 12th, led approaching 2 out, ridden and ran on, won at Fakenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Mar beating Nobel Leader (11-1) by 4l, 6 ran.
