prominent, chased leader 8th until after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
chased leader until after 6th, hit next, weakening when blundered 9th, mistake 3 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out
mid-division, mistake 1st, headway after 7th, led approaching 2 out, ridden and headed last, no extra flat, lost 2nd towards finish
held up in last, headway to go 5th when not fluent 3 out, went 3rd last, edged left, finished strongly to take 2nd towards finish, not reach winner
mid-division, reminders after 6th, weakened approaching 8th, tailed off
led to 7th, weakened 9th, tailed off
always prominent, led after 3 out until headed narrowly before 2 out, regained lead when not fluent last, stayed on well
in touch, took keen hold, hit 3rd, led 7th, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out
held up towards rear, reminder after 7th, some headway 9th, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, raced keenly, not fluent 4th, weakened 8th, tailed off
Nonrunner
Officier De Reserve is taken on with STARBURST DIAMOND, Tisfreetdream should pick up some more prize money whilst Arturo Uno has the scope to win races over hurdles. Officier De Reserve is sure to be popular here given his connections and the fact that he has shown a decent level of form over fences and last raced from a mark of 140. He receives weight from all of the principals and should be a warm order and hard to beat. Ratings suggest that Tisfreetdream has an almighty amount to do whilst Arturo Uno will need to show significant improvement on the useful form that he showed in bumpers. Alan King's runner concedes 7lbs and has been allotted an official mark of just 125 he, too, has a mountain to climb. However, he ran well in bumpers and progressed well with each of his three starts over hurdles and should rank a good deal higher than his current mark in time. Officier De Reserve finished last season with a couple of below par performances and didn't reproduce his chase form in his one run over hurdles at Cheltenham last October whilst the tongue strap that he has worn for his last four starts is missing. So, given the likely prices of the two leading protagonists, it may just be worth chancing Starburst Diamond.
Starburst Diamond (IRE) 15-8fav (10-8) In touch, went 2nd 8th, not fluent next, challenged 3 out, soon led, clear between last 2, stayed on well, won at Bangor 3m nov hdl (4) gs in May beating Fourty Acers (10-13) by 11l, 10 ran.
Thumbprint (IRE) 10-1 (11-2) Led, not fluent 4th, ridden and headed after 9th, weakened approaching 3 out, 4th of 13, well behind Tarablaze (10-12) at Uttoxeter 2m 6f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Tisfreetdream (IRE) 7-4fav (10-11) Mid-division, headway after 7th, ridden approaching 9th, led after 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on well, won at Stratford 2m 6f mdn hdl (3) gd in Oct beating Haldibari (10-13) by 7l, 15 ran.
All About Trigger (FR) 13-2 (11-0) Mostly chased winner until not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, poor 5th when pulled up 2 out in race won by Ballykelly (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov hdl (4) gs in May, 13 ran.
Eurocelt (IRE) 8-1 (11-9) Chased leaders, hit 13th, soon ridden, lost touch from next, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by The Risky Viking (11-2) at Exeter 4m hcp chs 0-120 (3) sft in Dec, 7 ran.
Mooncoin Man (IRE) 80-1 (10-11) Always towards rear, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Pride of Dulcote (11-0) at Chepstow 3m mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
Officier De Reserve (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, mistakes, headway 13th to track leaders, weakened 3 out, hampered when beaten 2 out and pulled up at the last in race won by High Chimes (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f amt hcp chs 0-140 (2) gs in Mar, 24 ran.
Pairc Na Gcapall (IRE) 100-1 (10-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 4th, not fluent 6th, jumped left 3 out, weakened 2 out, 5th of 6, 25l behind Dragon Eye (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov hdl (3) gd in Oct.
Lucy's Turn (IRE) 50-1 (11-0) Bumped 1st, mid-division, reminders 4th, some progress next, weakened 4 out, 11th of 12, well behind Celtic Heather (11-0) at Southwell 2m 4f mrs mdn hdl (5) gs in Apr.
Newton Blossom Shambo mare out of Newton Venture.
Arturo Uno (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) With leader until ridden over 3f out, weakened and eased over 1f out, 9th of 15, 26l behind Shalone (11-5) at Uttoxeter 2m nhf (6) gs in May.
