chased leaders, mistake 12th, reminder next, well there when blundered and fell 4 out
held up early but soon in touch, headway to chase leaders 9th, 2nd 12th, not fluent next, led 2 out, idle flat, driven out and kept on
held up towards rear, hampered 10th, stayed on from 4 out, to dispute 3rd approaching last, no extra run-in
chased leaders, pecked 3rd, led 5th, mistake 6th, narrowly headed 7th (water), regained lead 11th, blundered and headed 2 out, kept on as winner idle flat
behind, not fluent 3rd, headway approaching 3 out, disputing 4th and driven approaching 2 out, no extra before last
blundered and unseated rider 1st
in touch, mistake 13th, driven approaching 4 out, stayed on to dispute 3rd between last 2, no extra from last
behind, mistake 4th, driven along 9th, jumped left 12th, tailed when pulled up before 13th
behind, mistake 3rd, driven and hit 12th, tailed off 13th and soon pulled up
blundered badly 1st, towards rear when blundered and unseated rider 5th
chased leaders, mistake 6th, well there when fell 10th
mid-division, pushed along at 12th, headway 3 out, kept on into 3rd approaching last but no impression on front pair
chased leader, led 7th (water), blundered and headed 11th, blundered 14th, still well there when hit 4 out, weakened soon after
led to 5th, stayed close up, ridden 8th, weakening when fell 10th
Finney was good value for his win in a beginners' chase at Uttoxeter last month but Oliver Sherwood's gelding faces no easy task giving weight away all round here and a better bet looks to be BE DEFINITE, who gets the vote with Pipo De Re rated the best of the rest. The selection was an Irish point-to-point winner, has shown progressive form over hurdles and looks likely to improve for going over fences so may be worth chancing on his debut for Tom George. Colin Tizzard's Hey Big Spender made an encouraging first start over the larger obstacles when chasing home Inchidaly Rock at Exeter recently and he has to be considered on his first start in a handicap over fences. Sharajan looked an unlucky loser when seemingly going better than anything else before falling late on when last seen in a novices' chase at Stratford in March and he has claims along with Fistral Beach, who makes his first start over fences for Paul Nicholls but has been hard to win with. Quinz has been going the right way over hurdles and could be of interest first time up over fences for Philip Hobbs, while Andrew Turnell's Lordsbridge has run consistently well of late but looks booked for a place at best. Pipo De Re is less exposed than most of these and is yet to win a race since joining Venetia Williams from France but he has shown a decent level of form in three starts over fences and looks well treated for his reappearance on ground that suits. Preference though is for Be Definite, who can make a winning start to his career in Britain.
Finney 15-8 (11-4) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 6th, challenged 3 out, ridden after next, led soon after last, stayed on well, won at Uttoxeter 3m beg chs (4) gd in Oct beating Cast Cada (11-4) by 1/2l, 4 ran.
Hey Big Spender (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up, mistakes 1st and 3rd, headway 13th, chased winner 3 out, no impression, jumped right 2 out, 2nd of 8, 14l behind Inchidaly Rock (10-12) at Exeter 3m nov stks (3) sft.
Cruchain (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Took keen hold towards rear, hit 12th, struggling after 4 out, tailed off, 8th of 11, well behind Nudge And Nurdle (10-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
Fistral Beach (IRE) 8-13fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 3 out, headed after last, outbattled, 2nd of 10, nk behind China Gold (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn hdl (5) gd in Apr.
Lordsbridge (USA) 13-2 (11-4) Held up in rear, took keen hold, headway 7th, challenged after 2 out, ridden and every chance last, edged left flat, not quicken, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Rathcor (11-5) at Towcester 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs.
Be Definite (IRE) 11-10fav (11-4) Chased leader in moderate 2nd, closer 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden and challenge before last, kept on well to assert from last, won at Ballinrobe 2m mdn hdl gd in Jul beating Farmaland (11-4) by 4l, 14 ran.
Quinz (FR) 12-1 (10-8) Chased leader, ridden approaching 3 out, led approaching 2 out, driven out, won at Haydock 2m 4f nov hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Burton Port (11-12) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Sharajan (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Led, hit 13th, headed after 4 out, led again 3 out, 3 lengths up when fell 2 out, in a race won by Victor Daly (11-12) at Southwell 3m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 6 ran.
Passato (GER) 10-1 (10-8) Chased leader and keen, led after 1st, headed and mistake 4 out, weakened next, 8th of 10, 46l behind Dance Island (10-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft.
Kilvergan Boy (IRE) 13-2 (11-3) Led, mistake and headed 2nd, led again 5th, headed 9th, ridden next, outpaced approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 3rd of 6, 35l behind Bench Warrent (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs 0-120 (3) sft.
Bobby Gee 9-1 (11-0) Tracked leader, led 2nd to 5th, remained in touch, led again 9th until blundered and unseated rider next, in a race won by Bench Warrent (11-3) at Market Rasen 2m 6f nov chs 0-120 (3) sft, 6 ran.
Pipo De Re (FR) 4-1 (10-10) Held up, reminder 6th, driven along 10th, stayed on from 2 out, went 3rd flat, 3rd of 9, 4l behind Very Cool (10-8) at Newbury 2m 6f nov hcp chs (0-125) (3) gd in Feb.
Kawagino (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Prominent, went 2nd after 4th until 6th, weakened approaching 2 out, 6th of 13, 22l behind Trenchant (11-9) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd.
South Bank (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, well there 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 9, well behind Shillingstone (11-5) at Kempton 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd.
