made all, soon clear, kept on well from 2 out
tracked winner until 11th, weakened from 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
in rear but tracked leaders, went 3rd before 5th, went briefly 2nd after 3 out, one pace and no impression from 2 out
tracked leaders in 3rd, jumped slow 5th and soon in rear, went 2nd from 11th, ridden before last, kept on, no chance with winner
Nonrunner
General Grey and Elusive Swallow have both won between the flags recently but SIMPLY SMASHING should be good enough to concede weight all round. Philip Kirby's charge is a decent hunter chaser on his day and handled the switch to handicap company with aplomb when running away with the Durham National over C&D two weeks ago. Neither Benwell nor Tyrrhenian look good enough to trouble him on these terms.
Simply Smashing (IRE) 11-2 (10-10) Made all, jumped right, ridden after 4 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Sedgefield 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in Apr beating Top Dressing (10-0) by 15l, 8 ran.
Benwell 8-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders in 4th, hit 7th, pushed along before 10th, weakened before 5 out, went remote 3rd 2 out, 3rd of 6, well behind Lutin Du Moulin (12-0) at Wetherby 3m 1f hts chs (6) gf.
Tyrrhenian 33-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, headway halfway, under pressure when blundered and unseated rider 2 out, in a race won by Bitter Blue (12-0) at Hexham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gf in Apr, 10 ran.
Elusive Swallow 6-1 (11-7) Hdwy 15; led 2 out; ro str, won at Charm Park 3m ptp gd in Apr beating Willywont He (12-0) by 5l, 6 ran.
General Grey (IRE) 15-8 (12-5) 2nd til led 15; stayed on wl, won at Heslaker 3m ptp gd beating Sonevafushi (12-5) by 4l, 4 ran.
