held up, headway 9th, chased winner after 3 out, ridden next, no impression
led to 1st, remained close up, ridden 4 out, soon outpaced
chased leaders, close 2nd when fell 6 out
held up in touch, ridden 4 out, no impression
mid-division, ridden 12th, weakened from next
towards rear, ridden 4 out, soon headway, one pace
held up towards rear, effort 4 out, never dangerous
chased leaders, lost place after 3rd and soon driven along, never on terms
led from 1st, ridden from 2 out, drew clear approaching last
in touch, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace from next
always towards rear
prominent, weakened from 4 out
mid-division, behind when hampered and unseated rider 6 out
held up, weakened and pulled up before 8th
held up in rear, headway 10th, outpaced from 4 out
Star De Mohaison is better over fences than over hurdles and the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding may be best discounted racing off the same mark as when well held in third when odds on to take a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham when last seen in January and preference is for BLUEGUN, who gets the vote ahead of Souffleur. Peter Bowen's gelding has been given a chance by the handicapper having been dropped 5lbs since his most recent start but he faces no easy task giving weight away all round. Oberon Moon, a stable companion of Star De Mohaison, is relatively unexposed and has to be considered off his light weight, while Henry Daly's Alderburn could be of interest back over hurdles having shown decent form over the larger obstacles. Keith Reveley's Ungaro makes a similar move but makes less appeal and of more interest may be Malcolm Jefferson's According To Pete, who is another making that change but he has won his last two starts and represents a stable in good form. David Pipe's Openditch seems to be fairly well treated and has to be considered but it is Bluegun that gets the vote. A former point-to-point winner, he has looked a decent recruit to hurdles and there should be more to come now that he goes handicapping, especially over these fixed brush hurdles.
Souffleur 6-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out, 7th of 13, 23l behind Pettifour (11-4) at Aintree 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Wild Cane Ridge (IRE) 16-1 (10-0) Mid-divison, ridden and weakened 18th, behind when pulled up in race won by Iris De Balme (9-7) at Ayr 4m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr, 24 ran.
Kirbybroguelantern (IRE) 7-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, ridden 2 out, soon driven and weakened, 6th of 15, 19l behind Fair Along (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Star De Mohaison (FR) 10-11fav (11-4) Tracked leaders, ridden to chase leader 2 out, soon hung left, weakened last, 3rd of 9, 20l behind Hills Of Aran (10-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Jan.
Bluegun (IRE) 5-4fav (11-5) Held up in touch, not fluent 1st, mistake next, not fluent 7th, challenged 3 out, ridden approaching last, stayed on flat, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind Great Endeavour (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Ungaro (FR) 33-1 (10-4) Held up, mistake 2nd, off the pace when fell 4 out in race won by Knowhere (10-5) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) sft in Oct, 12 ran.
Mendo 12-1 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 9th, not much room and lost place on inside after 10th, stayed on from 2 out, no impression on leaders, 9th of 22, 19l behind Forest Pennant (10-13) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Russian Trigger 9-1 (10-9) Held up in touch, not fluent 1st, mistake 6th and reminders, hit next, weakened under pressure after 3 out, 11th of 24, well behind Ballyfitz (10-8) at Cheltenham 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gs in Mar.
According To Pete 8-11fav (11-4) Made most, drew clear from 2 out, comfortably, won at Hexham 3m 1f nov chs (3) hvy beating Jass (10-9) by 16l, 6 ran.
Alderburn 17-2 (10-13) Held up towards rear, chased leaders 4 out, went 3rd approaching next, outpaced by leading pair, 3rd of 17, 25l behind Oedipe (10-4) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs (2) gd in Apr.
Gunner Jack 5-1fav (11-11) In touch, led when blundered 2 out, soon headed, no impression approaching last, 6th of 13, 10l behind Tension Point (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Copsale Lad 16-1 (10-5) Tracked leader, mistake 4th, ridden 3 out, kept on from last, 4th of 15, 7l behind Fair Along (10-13) at Cheltenham 3m 1f lst hcp hdl (1) sft.
Bantry Bere (IRE) 14-1 (11-8) Tracked leader, hit 3rd, led 6th, headed 2 out, one pace, 3rd of 10, 7l behind Brenin Cwmtudu (10-2) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Leac An Scail (IRE) 6-1 (10-9) In touch, led 7th, headed approaching 2 out, soon led again, headed approaching last, kept on flat, 2nd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Tension Point (10-4) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs.
Oberon Moon (IRE) 13-2 (11-5) Held up behind, steady progress after 3 out, hard ridden after next, 5th jumping last, stayed on strongly, led near finish, won at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Apr beating Tisfreetdream (10-6) by a nk, 20 ran.
Openditch (FR) 11-2 (10-8) Held up in touch, headway approaching 3 out, ridden approaching next, stayed on flat, 4th of 15, 2l behind Liberate (11-10) at Haydock 3m hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
