in touch in mid-division, hit 2nd, lost place when not fluent 10th, well beaten before 4 out
made all, jumped right 4 out, clear next, ridden out
prominent, bumped 11th, not fluent next, soon pushed along, weakened after 4 out
held up in rear, headway after 12th, went 2nd last, stayed on, no impression on winner
in touch in mid-division, weakened 12th, soon behind
in touch in mid-division, headway 11th, 2nd from 4 out, no impression on winner next, lost 2nd last
prominent, not fluent 2nd, mistake 11th, 3rd and driven 3 out, weakened 2 out
towards rear, not fluent 2nd, jumped left next, headway on outside 6th, no impression from 4 out, took 4th after last
held up in rear, ridden and struggling 12th
Bertie Lugg won a couple of times in the spring but may need this after a break. Return Flight will probably start favourite as he won at Southwell in October and was only beaten a neck at Ffos Las last month, though has been raised a further 6lb since. ALTESSE DE GUYE makes her chasing bow so that’s a concern. However, she more than held her own in decent company over hurdles last season and contests this off a lower mark than her hurdles rating. Danvinne can be expected to improve now tackling fences and Buttercup did run twice over fences in France, finishing second at Auteuil, so can’t be ignored. Behind The Wire has won a point-to-point so is another to consider.
Make Me A Fortune (IRE) 12-1 (11-2) Chased leaders on outside, outpaced 4 out, no chance after, weakened from 2 out, tailed off, last of 4, dist behind Theinval (11-2) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f (4) gd in May.
Return Flight 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, tracked winner 4 out, ridden and every chance from 3 out, ran on flat but always looked held by winner, 2nd of 8, nk behind Highway Storm (11-5) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Nov.
Behind The Wire (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, chased leaders before 2 out (normal 3 out), no extra bypassing omitted last, 4th of 12, 21 1/4l behind Wotzizname (11-1) at Exeter 2m 7f (4) gs in Apr.
Altesse De Guye (FR) 5-1 (11-2) In touch, jumped left 4th, not fluent and stumbled next, close up when went left 2 out, no impression on winner last, one pace, 5th of 15, 11 1/4l behind Behind Time (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Danvinnie 8-1 (11-1) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden before 2 out, soon outpaced, 4th of 8, 21l behind Kerisper (11-1) at Ffos Las 2m 4f mdn (4) gs in Mar.
Buttercup (FR) 11-2 (10-7) Mid-division, headway before 2 out, ridden before last, no extra last 100 yards, 5th of 10, 7 1/4l behind Ballinvegga (11-0) at Perth 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Apr.
Bertie Lugg 7-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, 2nd going well soon after 4 out, challenged 3 out, led narrowly next, joined last, driven between and stayed on well run-in, won at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp (5) gd in May beating Squeeze Me (11-5) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Somerset Jem 11-2 (11-4) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 8th, 3rd 4 out, pushed along before next, ridden and weakened 3 out, 7th of 14, dist behind Cailleach Annie (11-2) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Far From Defeat (IRE) 33-1 (11-1) In rear, struggling after 6th, tailed off and pulled up after 2 out, at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gd in Mar.
