took keen hold, held up, lost touch with leading trio 10th, soon reluctant to race, tailed off 11th, pulled up after 13th
led, headed 2 out, still upsides when mistake last, no extra towards finish
held up in last pair, hit 9th, reminder after 10th, soon lost touch with leading trio, tailed off from next
chased leader, not fluent 3rd, blundered 13th and lost 2nd, weakened next, remote when jumped left 4 out
held up, lost touch with leading trio from 10th, tailed off next
held up in last pair, lost touch with leading trio from 10th, tailed off next
chased clear leading pair, closed 10th, went 2nd 13th, slight lead 2 out, shaken up to assert flat, stayed on
Nonrunner
A mouthwatering contest that can go the way of PANCAKE although the claims of Carruthers, Hopkins and Carnival Town must be taken seriously. The selection is a popular sort due to his flashy markings and it helps that he's not short of ability either. His two chase runs came in Grade 2 company last season and he got to within a length and a half of the Galway Plate winner Oslot on the second of them which suggests that a first win over fences will come his way sooner rather than later. Carruthers enjoyed something of a fairytale season despite coming up short in the Spa Hurdle at Cheltenham. He achieved a smart level of form over hurdles and has the scope to do the same over fences. Hopkins progressed with experience over hurdles and appeared to have been aimed at a valuable race over the brush hurdles at Haydock which is a track where his owner enjoys having winners. He duly won that race albeit a shade fortuitously but he should be seen to even better effect now chasing. He's a half-brother to the smart Billyvodan and has to be on the short-list. Carnival Town disappointed on his most recent start but had shown promise prior to that whilst it would be folly to dismiss What A Friend given that he got to within four lengths of Aigle D'Or in a Grade 2 Hurdle on his penultimate start. It's not easy to choose between the main protagonists but the toss came down in favour of Pancake. (Ian Ogg)
Carnival Town 11-2 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 8th, ridden to chase leaders 13th, 6 lengths 3rd when blundered 4 out, weakened, 9th of 14, 47l behind Le Briar Soul (10-11) at Chepstow 3m beg chs (4) sft in Dec.
Carruthers 9-2jt-fav (11-7) Led, ridden and headed before 2 out, weakening when mistake 2 out, 11th of 18, well behind Nenuphar Collonges (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Hopkins (IRE) 6-1 (11-1) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, ridden 2 out, held when mistake last, 4th of 13, 8l behind Jug Of Punch (10-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Pancake (FR) 10-1 (10-12) Behind, never jumped well, detached with the circuit to go, 15 lengths adrift when left in remote 3rd 3 out, stayed on well flat, 3rd of 5, 1 1/2l behind Oslot (11-0) at Kempton 2m 4f nov chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Feb.
Plum Pudding (FR) 10-1 (10-11) In touch, ridden and weakened 2 out, 7th of 11, 17l behind Critical Stage (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
Tarsus (12-0) won at The Pigeons 3m ire ptp gs in Mar beating Big Hughie (12-0) by 3l, 14 ran.
What A Friend 25-1 (11-7) Mid-division, blundered 9th, soon no impression, well behind when pulled up at the last in race won by Nenuphar Collonges (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar, 18 ran.
Double Intruder (IRE) 7-4 (10-12) Prominent, raced keenly, hit 10th, kept on approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 29l behind Spare Cash (11-1) at Uttoxeter 3m mdn hdl (4) sft in Apr.
Grey Kite 250-1 (10-13) Held up, pushed along 6th, soon behind, tailed off, 12th of 14, well behind Sa Nau (10-7) at Fakenham 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gs in Jan '07.
The Accordion Man (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Led, headed 2nd, weakened 11th, behind when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Herecomesthetruth (10-12) at Chepstow 3m nov chs (3) gd, 7 ran.
