ABRAGANTE, who won a Listed chase at Wincanton for David Pipe in 2007, is a class act at this level and, though absent since beating Special Portrait in a similar race here almost 12 months ago, can concede weight to his six rivals. Itzacliche doesn't have much in the way of pace nowadays but can chase him home as Call Me Mulligan didn't beat much in a point-to-point at Mordon last month. Brize Norton's jumping can be a little suspect while Idole First is a bit long in the tooth now.
Abragante (IRE) 11-8fav (11-13) Patiently ridden in rear, steady headway from 4 out, went 3rd last, led final 200 yards, stayed on well, good ride, won at Kelso 3m 1f hts chs (4) gd in May '11 beating Special Portrait (12-3) by 2 1/4l, 8 ran.
Call Me Mulligan (IRE) 10-1 (12-5) Led til hdd 3 out; led last; ro wl, won at Mordon 3m ptp gd in Apr beating Monogram (12-5) by 1l, 8 ran.
Hawthorne Bay 20-1 (11-5) Held up, closed 13th, went 3rd before 4 out, no impression when mistake 2 out, left remote 2nd last, 2nd of 7, 23l behind Special Portrait (12-3) at Perth 3m 2f hts chs (6) sft in Apr.
Nirvana Du Bourg (FR) 8-1 (11-0) (cp) (tt) led 5-8; rdn 3 out; no ex, 3rd of 8, 13l behind Sea Scout (11-0) at Corbridge 3m ptp gs in Apr.
Itzacliche (IRE) 6-4 (12-7) (cp) ap; one pce 3 out, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Miss Vivian (12-0) at Dalston 3m ptp gd in Apr.
Brize Norton (IRE) 9-4fav (11-9) Held up towards rear, fell 4th, in a race won by Amicelli (12-1) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) gd in Mar, 8 ran.
Idole First (IRE) 13-2 (11-7) Led until after 3rd, left in lead 8th, headed next, not fluent and outpaced from 11th, weakened 3 out, mistake 2 out, 3rd of 5, 28l behind That's Rhythm (11-7) at Bangor 3m hts chs (6) gs in Apr.
