Ask The Umpire gets the vote here with Finzi and Runaway Bishop rating the main dangers. The selection was a fair second behind Lanmire Tower last time out. That form has since been franked and off the same mark here and under conditions that suit he looks the one to be on. Finzi rates the main danger but he just gave the impression the handicapper had caught up with him when last seen when third behind Follow The Flow and he may just need the run after a 207 day absence. Runaway Bishop was a fair fourth behind Channarlie last time and is another with place claims but he looks vulnerable to a less exposed type. Of the remainder, Dante's Brook is from a yard in form and looks to be on a handy mark but he has not progressed as expected and for the winner we return to Ask The Umpire who at least is in form.
Ask The Umpire (IRE) 9-4jt-fav (11-4) In touch, headway 8th, chased winner 4 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Lanmire Tower (11-5) at Lingfield 2m 4f amt hcp chs (F) sft.
Dante's Back (IRE) 12-1 (11-3) Held up, headway when hit 8th, weakened 2 out, 5th of 10, 26l behind King of Gothland (10-8) at Huntingdon 3m nov hcp chs 0-110 (D) gd.
Finzi (IRE) 9-4fav (10-0) Led 3rd to 9th, led again after 12th, headed 16th, outpaced 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace flat, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Follow The Flow (9-13) at Warwick 3m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (D) gs in Dec.
Heartache 18-1 (10-0) Led, headed 8th, led again 9th, headed and jumped right 10th, soon weakened, jumped right 3 out and pulled up 3 out in race won by Idealko (10-9) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (D) gd in May, 10 ran.
Minat Boy 14-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake 6th, hit next, ridden after 2 out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 14l behind Tipp Top (11-2) at Towcester 2m 6f beg chs (E) sft in Mar.
Pardini (USA) 100-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 2nd, ridden 25th, soon lost place, 12th of 14, well behind Spot Thedifference (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m 7f crs cty chs (B) gd.
Runaway Bishop (USA) 20-1 (10-9) Always behind, 4th of 9, 30l behind Channahrlie (9-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-105 (E) gf.
Sam Adamson 12-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway 7th, weakened approaching 3 out, tailed off, 8th of 13, well behind Lindsay (11-2) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-100 (F) gs.
