always towards rear
tracked leaders, led 3 out, pressed next, headed last, no impression
towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, weakened soon after
led to 3 out, soon outpaced, kept on from 2 out
tracked leader, in 3rd before 2 out, one pace
in rear, headway before 4 out, ridden after next, soon weakened
held up mid-division, went 2nd before 2 out, led before last, kept on strongly
Nonrunner
BRIGHT ABBEY was campaigned as a soft ground performer on the Flat but the five-year-old has shown no problems in adapting to a faster surface and we'll take Philip Hobbs' charge to get back to winning ways. Rum And Butter has to be treated with the utmost respect as a previous course and distance winner. Connections will have been disappointed to have seen him finish a distant second at Worcester last time although he was up against a very progressive sort on that occasion. Castlemorris King isn't averse to taking a few hurdles in his wake but he's proven on fast ground and is in good heart. Descaro often finds little when push comes to shove while Waterunder needs to leave behind a moderate effort at Ffos Las last month.
Waterunder (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Held up in 5th, chased leaders 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, no impression, 4th of 6, 24l behind Conellie (10-7) at Ffos Las 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Jun.
Hunting Tower 66-1 (10-13) In touch, not fluent 2nd, lost place after 3rd, outpaced 3 out, weakened next, tailed off, 8th of 10, well behind At Fishers Cross (10-10) at Newbury 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-150 (2) sft in Dec.
Castlemorris King 7-4fav (11-5) Led, jumped right and not fluent 1st, headed after 2 out, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 6, 6l behind Solaras Exhibition (11-11) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Descaro (USA) 3-1 (11-1) With leader, led before 2nd, clear after 4th until 6th, headed 3 out, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 5l behind Bollin Judith (10-10) at Uttoxeter 2m sll hdl (5) gf.
Bright Abbey 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leader, led 4 out, went badly right 3 out, soon headed, every chance 2 out, one pace before last, 2nd of 6, 9l behind Cool Macavity (11-5) at Worcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gf in Jun.
Teshali (IRE) 18-1 (11-3) Held up, jumped slowly and last 5th, weakened after 2 out, last of 6, 13l behind Solaras Exhibition (11-11) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf.
Rum And Butter (IRE) 13-8 (11-6) Tracked leader, ridden and switched left before last, hung badly left run-in, one pace, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Man Of Leisure (11-3) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Jun.
Trop Fort (FR) 33-1 (10-11) Pressed leader, led 5th until 7th, lost place when hampered on bend after 2 out, weakened before last, 15th of 17, 42l behind Party Rock (10-1) at Cheltenham 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gs in Apr.
