mid-division, mistake 2nd, headway 6th, left 2nd when hampered 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leaders, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 3 out
prominent, chased leader 3rd, stumbled 9th, every chance when fell 4 out
chased leaders, hit 2nd, stumbled 6th, hampered 4 out, chased winner just after 3 out, no impression between last 2, one pace last
held up towards rear, hit 6th, headway 2 out, stayed on same place flat
towards rear, hampered 4th, pushed along 5th, hit 9th, headway 2 out, stayed on under pressure flat, nearly got 2nd
made all, in command approaching last, ridden and edged left flat, driven out
held up, behind from 10th, blundered 12th
mid-division, jumped right, mistake and unseated rider 4th
held up towards rear, behind from 10th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, hit 8th, pushed along after 9th, behind from 12th, no chance when blundered 3 out
chased leaders, mistake 9th, jumped left 12th, went left and weakened 3 out
chased winner until 3rd, reminder 4th, pushed along approaching 8th, soon ridden, weakened 4 out
This handicap looks wide open, but we'll side with LUCKY LUK, ahead of Native City and Keltic Lord. The selection has proved versatile over different trips and in differing conditions. He won here in April, and was back in the winners' enclosure last time out too at Exeter. He keeps the visor on which helped last time, with his trainer saying he can be lazy in races. Keltic Lord was just behind Lough Rynn last time out, who's since franked the form at Ludlow. He's always competitive, and usually involved at the finish, but it's more than 3 years now since winning, when scoring a hat-trick of successes. If Native City were to triumph it would be the third successive year that Jonjo O'Neill's landed this race. Native City has been the model of consistency this season, not finishing out of the front two in his last five runs. He's one of more than half the field to have won here previously, and remains within the handicap. You can make a case for most of these, but we just prefer the claims of Lucky Luk.
Jonny's Kick 20-1 (11-8) Towards rear, struggling halfway, 5th of 9, well behind See You There (11-12) at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs.
Rookery Lad 22-1 (10-1) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, led 7th, headed after 3 out, still every chance when hit 2 out, weakening when jumped last, last of 7, 19l behind Loita Hills (11-1) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Nicto De Beauchene (FR) 7-2 (11-12) Tracked leaders, led 5th, headed approaching 5 out, soon ridden, led after 4 out, headed 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 2l behind Dere Lyn (10-12) at Chepstow 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) sft in Mar.
Elsie's Pride (IRE) 5-2fav (11-8) Prominent to 3rd, reminders and behind 7th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by Chopneyev (11-9) at Folkestone 2m 5f cnd hcp chs 0-105 (4) hvy in Jan, 10 ran.
Native City (IRE) 4-1fav (11-7) Held up, headway 7th, led approaching 2 out, headed last, kept on to lead again flat, won at Towcester 2m 5f nov hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gd beating Smarties Party (11-1) by 1l, 16 ran.
Natoumba (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up, headway 5th, ridden after 7th, weakened before 2 out, 3rd of 7, 20l behind Captain Becket (10-5) at N Abbot 3m 3f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in Jun.
Randolph O'Brien (IRE) 11-1 (11-2) Always struggling in rear, tailed off when pulled up at the 10th in race won by Gumley Gale (10-0) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in May, 12 ran.
Lucky Luk (FR) 6-1 (10-10) Mid-division, headway 5th, went 2nd 11th, led 14th, ridden when mistake 2 out, drifted right flat, just held on, won at Exeter 3m hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs beating Ibberton (11-0) by a shd, 12 ran.
Pharanto (IRE) 16-1 (11-7) Mid-division, ridden and weakened after 7th, virtually pulled up flat, 14th of 17, well behind That Look (11-3) at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gf in May.
Charlottes Webb (IRE) 10-3 (10-7) Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, hit 8th, effort after 3 out, weakened quickly and pulled up 2 out in race won by Brenin Cwmtudu (11-0) at Wincanton 2m 6f mdn hdl (4) gs in Apr, 13 ran.
Walton Way 8-1 (10-13) Chased leaders, went 2nd 13th, left 15 lengths ahead 2 out, won at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr beating Roddy The Vet (10-1) by 33l, 13 ran.
The Langer (IRE) 25-1 (9-11) In touch, mistake and slightly hampered 10th, hit next, outpaced approaching 3 out, 5 lengths down when unseated rider 2 out in race won by Mister Apple's (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-125 (3) gd, 15 ran.
Jacarado (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) In touch, close order 7th, ridden 12th, hampered next, no impression from 3 out, 7th of 15, 36l behind Blunham Hill (10-5) at Towcester 3m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd.
Keltic Lord 10-1 (11-7) Close up, led 6th, headed last, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Ngong Hills (11-8) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (5) frm.
