led, not fluent 5th, headed 7th, soon ridden, blundered 4 out, weakened 2 out
took keen hold, tracked leader until 7th, weakening when blundered 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
held up in touch, chased winner 3 out, no impression
held up in rear, took keen hold, mistake 5th, ridden after 8th, soon weakened, hampered 4 out
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, headway 8th, 3rd when fell 4 out
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, headway next, led 7th, jumped right from next, drew clear approaching 3 out, easily
took keen hold, held up in touch, not fluent and lost place 6th, behind 8th, stayed on to go 3rd 2 out, no impression
Nonrunner
Sue Smith's Stagecoach Amber has become expensive to follow and looks best left out of calculations in a race taken to go to HUGUENOT, who gets the vote ahead of Norborne Bandit. The nine-year-old is better than he showed at Stratford last time and the Evan Williams-trained gelding has every chance on form shown at the same venue previously and at Uttoxeter. Charlie Mann's Cortinas was very disappointing on his reappearance at Newton Abbot recently and looks best discounted, while Line Artic has struggled against the handicapper since winning at Kempton in March. Jamie Snowden's Marodima has been well placed to win a couple of claimers but failed to reproduce a similar level of form back in a handicap at Hexham earlier this month and of more interest may be Lucinda Russell's Ormello, who has his first outing since unseating at the first at Cheltenham in April and is off a fair mark. The vote though goes the way of Huguenot, who does not win very often but has been running consistently well for Philip Hobbs of late and he can gain a deserved success.
Marodima (FR) 11-1 (11-5) Led to 2nd, tracked leader, pushed approaching 6th, soon weakened, 11th of 12, well behind Inventor (11-5) at Hexham 2m hcp hdl (2) gf.
Line Artic (FR) 11-8fav (11-9) Led, blundered 8th, soon headed, chased winner until lost place approaching 2 out, lost 3rd and weakened between last 2, last of 4, 22l behind Tyup Pompey (9-11) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Ormello (FR) 8-1 (10-8) Tracked leader, fell 1st, in a race won by De Boitron (10-9) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp chs (0-135) (3) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Cortinas (GER) 16-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, blundered badly 8th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 6th of 7, well behind De Luain Gorm (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
Huguenot (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Took keen hold, held up in touch, pushed along after 7th, mistake 4 out, weakened next, 4th of 7, 27l behind De Luain Gorm (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf.
Mibleu (FR) 14-1 (10-10) Took keen hold, held up in rear, jumped right 2nd, headway after 6th, mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, in a race won by De Luain Gorm (10-9) at Newton Abbot 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gf, 7 ran.
Norborne Bandit (IRE) 11-2 (10-3) Soon behind, 5th of 9, 33l behind Passato (10-7) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf in May.
Stagecoach Amber (USA) 9-1 (11-3) Led until 2nd, led 6th, soon headed, hit 11th, weakened approaching 4 out, blundered 3 out, 4th of 8, 26l behind Polyfast (11-8) at Worcester 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
