chased leader, not fluent 7th or 9th, jumped left and lost 2nd 14th, soon outpaced, mistake 2 out, switched right and plugged on, no impression, went 3rd before last
jumped right at times, raced in last, not fluent 3rd, pushed along next, closed before 16th, close 3rd 2 out, no impression in 4th last
led, not fluent 14th, slowed into 4 out, again slow when 3 lengths clear last, headed flat, no impression towards finish
chased leaders, not fluent 12th, pushed along before 14th, went 2nd when not fluent 14th, mistake 2 out, led flat, driven out
BIG NASTY was beaten only a length at Cheltenham last month and faces an easier task in this with the extra distance in his favour. Rapid Raider remains 6lb higher than when landing hat-trick last autumn though has gone close again at Newcastle subsequently while Ecossais gets a change of headgear and the step back up in trip will suit. Irish raider Yaiza is fitted with a tongue-tie looking to end a long losing run.
Big Nasty 13-8fav (10-7) Tracked leader close up, outpaced after 4 out and dropped to 3rd, keeping on when rallied after last, pressed idling leader run-in, always held, 2nd of 5, 1l behind The Bull Mccabe (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Yaiza (IRE) 50-1 (12-0) 5th of 25, 15 1/4l behind Amir Kabir (12-3) at Punchestown 1m 7f Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Ecossais (FR) 6-4fav (11-3) Tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, ran on same pace, 4th of 7, 9l behind Debden Bank (11-3) at Southwell 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Rapid Raider (IRE) 7-2 (11-3) Midfield, towards rear 9th, ridden in rear 15th, some headway before 2 out, not fluent last, no extra, 4th of 6, 6 1/4l behind Morozov Cocktail (11-6) at Newcastle 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
