prominent, led 8th, headed approaching 9th, soon weakened, tailed off
led until after 3rd, prominent, ridden approaching 8th, weakened after next, tailed off
prominent when jumped slowly 1st, tracked leaders, jumped slowly 7th, weakened 3 out
mid-division, mistake 1st, in rear 6th, soon behind, tailed off
tracked leaders, led approaching 9th, ridden and edged right flat, stayed on
in rear, headway approaching 7th, soon ridden, weakened after 8th, tailed off
mid-division on outside, headway from 2nd to lead after 3rd, headed 8th, stayed on same pace flat
soon in touch, closed 4th, ridden and lost place after 7th, pulled up before 9th
held up in rear, headway 7th, close 3rd when blundered 2 out, no impression after, weakened from last
soon mid-division, pushed along after 5th, lost place after next, pulled up before 7th
held up towards rear, headway 8th, chased winner and hung left 2 out, stayed on flat, no impression
Knighton Coombe is a better chaser than Definite Dawn and in a different league to Heezagrey. He won over fences at Ascot last month before finishing seventh in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown and, despite his age, is likely to be among the leading contenders here having being placed in three of his five starts over hurdles. However, PRESENTING ACE is never going to get a better chance to open his account with the step up in trip likely to suit. The cheekpieces are back on today after he appeared to resent blinkers in a hot novices' handicap at Haydock last time. Oca De Thaix recorded a hat-trick in hunter chases last year but has struggled since.
Adios Alonso (IRE) 66-1 (10-8) Badly hampered 1st, held up, headway approaching 8th, ridden after 9th, soon weakened, tailed off, 6th of 8, well behind Talkonthestreet (11-7) at Ludlow 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Definite Dawn (IRE) 25-1 (11-0) Mid-division, ridden after 14th, hit next, well beaten 4 out, tailed off 3 out, pulled up soon after, in a race won by Ballyfoy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Apr, 14 ran.
Hameldown Tor 5-1 (11-5) Tracked leaders, hit 2nd, not fluent 9th, mistake 15th, 5 lengths 4th when fell 4 out, in a race won by Doctor Kingsley (11-3) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) sft, 13 ran.
Heezagrey (IRE) 15-2 (9-9) Towards rear, mistake and driven 13th, blundered 12th, hit next, driven along in 6th after 16th, went poor 3rd before last, 3rd of 9, well behind Epee Celeste (11-11) at Stratford 3m 4f hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Apr.
Knighton Combe 25-1 (9-9) In touch, ridden and lost place 18th, no chance after, 7th of 19, well behind Tidal Bay (11-12) at Sandown 3m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Apr.
Marching Orders (IRE) 100-1 (10-6) Mid-division, not fluent and carried left 3rd, lost place when mistake next, tailed off, 7th of 11, well behind Midnight Tuesday (11-4) at Newbury 2m 3f cnd nov hcp hdl (0-120) (4) gs in Mar.
Oca De Thaix (FR) 33-1 (11-1) With leader, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 3rd, lost place 6th, soon behind, 7th of 12, 29l behind Midnight Tuesday (11-5) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd.
Our Joseph (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) in a race won by Moyode Wood (12-0) at Charing 3m ptp gf in Apr, 5 ran.
Presenting Ace (IRE) 14-1 (10-6) Tracked leader, led after 7th, headed, hung left and weakened approaching 3 out, 14th of 20, 49l behind Hada Men (10-8) at Haydock 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Rich Buddy 50-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, hampered 6th, some headway approaching last, no impression, weakened flat, 8th of 17, 19l behind Themilanhorse (11-0) at Warwick 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) gd in Dec.
Weapon Of War (IRE) 6-1 (11-0) Mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway to chase leaders 7th, driven in 4th 4 out, one pace from next, 5th of 12, 14l behind Hellfire Club (11-0) at Ascot 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in Apr '10.
