held up, shaken up in rear after 8th, went 5th after last, never dangerous
not fluent, pressed leader until 2nd, chased leaders, reminders after next, closed after 8th, well held from 3 out, went 4th last
held up towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway 6th, went 3rd 2 out, no chance with front pair
always in rear
held up in rear, headway when mistake 4 out, well held after next, weakened last
took keen hold, mistake 1st, went 2nd next, led after 3rd, headed 5th, hit 8th, weakened last
led until after 3rd, led 5th, not fluent 3 out, no chance with winner flat
mid-division, went 3rd 4th, closed after 8th, went close 2nd going well 4 out, led last, very easily
My Pal Val scored over C&D last June but returns from a break here and lacks the potential of AMUSE ME. The five-year-old hasn't pulled up any trees over fences so far but is gradually coming down the weights and would take all the beating if translating last season's useful form over hurdles to this sphere. Azulada Bay won at Ludlow in November but was pulled up at the same track on his return from a break while Sadler's Star suffered the same fate over hurdles at Towcester last month and is best watched today. Amble Forge was more like his old self at Chepstow last time, however, and is very well treated on his old form.
Amuse Me 9-2 (11-11) Held up behind leaders, jumped slowly 4th, blundered next (water), lost touch 3 out, 4th of 6, 22l behind Marley Roca (11-6) at Stratford 2m 1f nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Azulada Bay (IRE) 7-1 (10-12) In rear, ridden 8th, lost touch before 10th, tailed off 12th, pulled up before 4 out, in a race won by Russian Epic (10-9) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Sadler's Star (GER) 14-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, ridden 5th, lost touch before 3 out, pulled up approaching 2 out, in a race won by Haarth Sovereign (11-0) at Towcester 2m hcp hdl 0-110 (4) gf in Apr, 11 ran.
Amble Forge (IRE) 13-2 (10-12) Tracked leader, led 3rd, headed 6th, soon hard ridden weakened 2 out, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Rileyev (11-11) at Chepstow 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gs in Apr.
My Pal Val (IRE) 7-1 (11-3) Tracked leading pair, outpaced 4 out, no chance from next, last of 4, 33l behind Quell The Storm (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m nov chs (4) gd in Aug.
Just One Thing (IRE) 15-2 (10-10) Took keen hold, led 1st until after 4th, not fluent 5th, mistake next, weakened approaching 3 out, 6th of 7, 47l behind Joker Choker (10-13) at Ludlow 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Apr.
Pin D'Estruval (FR) 8-1 (10-10) Led, headed after 3 out, disputing 4th and weakening when fell last, in a race won by Tatispout (11-3) at Stratford 2m nov hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gf in Apr, 10 ran.
Sky Calling 11-2 (10-13) Prominent, every chance 3 out, weakened next, 5th of 6, 31l behind Sweet World (10-11) at Ffos Las 2m hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
