led, headed after 4 out, soon driven and lost place, weakened quickly before next, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, headway 7th, tracked leaders next, one pace when switched right before 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, no impression
mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, never a threat
held up, always behind, ridden and weakened after 4 out, continued tailed off
mid-division on outside, headway after 4 out, chased leaders next, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened 2 out, tailed off
mid-division, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden and one pace, rallied after last, finished strongly to lead towards finish
towards rear, hampered 5th, headway on outside 7th, ridden and lost place after 4 out, behind from next
tracked leaders, driven after next, never on terms, lost place after next, weakened flat
always towards rear, struggling 4 out, tailed off next
tracked leaders, challenged before 4 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on and every chance flat, no extra and lost place closing stages
mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden to chase leaders before next, kept on same pace, never on terms, weakened flat
behind from 2nd, never travelled well after, lost touch and pulled up after 6th
in touch, driven and outpaced 3 out, no impression after
held up mid-division, fell 5th
in touch, pushed along and lost place before 3 out, ridden after next, rallied after last, stayed on to take never nearer 3rd near finish
behind, hampered 5th, pushed along after next, tailed off 4 out, pulled up before next
pressed leader, led narrowly after 4 out, ridden after next, not fluent last, kept on until headed and no extra towards finish
Umbrigado treads a familiar path as David Pipe has won this three times in recent years with five-year-olds. A lightly-raced, bumper, maiden and novice hurdle winner, he wasn't up to Grade 1 standard on his final start and has never been further than 2m4f under Rules. Lisnagar Oscar has the advantage of a course and distance victory which he achieved in a Grade 2. He's quickly returned to hurdles after finishing tailed off over fences at Stratford last month. Willie Mullins sends Eight And Bob over from Ireland and he arrives in winning form having scored over the trip at Gowran though he has to race from 9lb higher. Winning point-to-pointer Flash The Steel has never been further than 2m3f over hurdles but won a Grade 3 handicap at Chester over that trip last time. Tedham looks to have been laid out for this by Jonjo as he was staying on over 2m5f at Cheltenham while Breaking Waves caught the eye in that same race. HIGHLAND HUNTER is having his first start for Paul Nicholls and though unraced since February he won a point-to-point on his debut and has scored first-time-out for the past two seasons so he gets a tentative vote in a very competitive handicap.
Sykes (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Led, set steady pace, driven after 2 out, ridden and headed when short of room briefly flat, switched right and no extra final 110 yards, 3rd of 8, 8 1/2l behind Tobefair (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) hvy in Oct.
Umbrigado (IRE) 10-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, short-lived effort approaching 2 out, 6th of 9, 9 3/4l behind Reserve Tank (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Lisnagar Oscar (IRE) 4-5fav (11-4) Tracked winner, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 5, 33l behind Black Op (11-4) at Stratford 2m 5f (4) sft in Oct.
Eight And Bob 12-1 (11-3) Mid-division, progress into 5th after 4 out, challenged entering straight, disputed 2 out, soon ridden, narrow advantage after last, kept on well closing stages, won at Gowran Park 3m hcp Yielding in Oct beating Bothar Dubh (11-0) by nk, 17 ran.
Flash The Steel (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up towards rear, good headway after 4 out, chased leaders before 2 out, 2nd going well 2 out, led between last 2, clear before last, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Oct beating Champagne Court (10-1) by 2l, 16 ran.
Stoney Mountain (IRE) 4-5fav (11-11) Tracked leader, led 2f out, driven and stayed on gamely run-0n, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Oct beating Garrettstown (11-6) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Diomede Des Mottes (FR) 2-1fav (11-3) Held up in rear, not fluent 4 out, headway on outside 3 out, 3rd going well 2 out, switched right before last, challenged after, driven and held final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Skandiburg (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Mega Yeats (IRE) 1-12fav (11-6) Made all, jumped well, shaken up approaching last, ran on well, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f (4) gs in Mar beating Catlin (10-5) by 2 1/4l, 5 ran.
Potters Corner (IRE) 33-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, slipped on bend after 4 out, weakened next, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Nov.
Ask Ben (IRE) 33-1 (11-5) Chased leaders on inside, driven after 2 out, soon ridden, never on terms, weakened before last, 10th of 20, 26l behind Minella Indo (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m (1) gs in Mar.
Echiquier (FR) 10-1 (11-0) Led, not fluent and headed 2 out, soon ridden, kept on, no extra approaching last, 5th of 9, 9l behind Thyme Hill (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gs in Oct.
Breaking Waves (IRE) 6-1jfav (11-6) Towards rear, outpaced 2 out, headway under pressure when hit last, ridden and stayed on to take 4th near finish, never nearer, 4th of 17, 9 3/4l behind Duke Street (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Highland Hunter (IRE) 14-1 (10-12) Behind, outpaced 4 out, stayed on approaching last, never on terms, 5th of 9, 18 1/2l behind Lisnagar Oscar (10-12) at Haydock 3m (1) gd in Feb.
Liosduin Bhearna (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Held up behind, headway into mid-division on outside after 4th, pushed along and outpaced after 2 out, weakened from last, 12th of 17, 19l behind Duke Street (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Tedham 6-1jfav (11-6) Towards rear, headway on outside after 4 out, outpaced before 2 out, ridden and kept on under pressure after last, never nearer, 6th of 17, 10 3/4l behind Duke Street (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Sirobbie (IRE) 5-1 (10-2) Held up in mid-division on outside, not fluent 7th or 8th, closed 9th, led 3 out, edged right after 2 out, stayed on, clear final 50 yards, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (2) sft in Oct beating Pobbles Bay (10-12) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Acey Milan (IRE) 7-4fav (11-5) Held up, headway 4 out, every chance 2 out, kept on well under pressure, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Dan McGrue (11-10) at Plumpton 2m 5f hcp (3) hvy in Nov.
