chased leaders, slow 2nd, reminder after 7th, pushed along 8th, weakened before last
chased leaders on inside, mistake 4th, losing place when not fluent 2 out, soon weakened
in rear, slow and awkward 2nd, pushed along after 7th, jumped right 4 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last
in rear on outside, slow 2nd, mistake 4 out, not fluent 3 out, headway 2 out, went 3rd last, no impression on winner
pressed leader, mistake 9th, led before 2 out, soon clear, eased towards finish
in touch towards rear, not fluent 3rd, pushed along 3 out, headway 2 out, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner
led, not fluent 9th, not fluent 3 out, headed before 2 out, 4th and weakening flat
NonRunner
Deise Aba and Remastered were second and third respectively in this 12 months ago but the weights favour the Pipe runner this afternoon. Lisnagar Oscar won the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2020 but has never been easy to predict. FLIGHT DECK doesn’t stand much racing but has a good strike-rate and goes well fresh so could be value in this though there are definite possibilities about Gericault Roque and Ashtown Lad back over hurdles with both well treated on chase form. Milan Bridge is 3-4 over timber and still unexposed but this might be a little too competitive for the in-form Johnson's Blue.
Deise Aba (IRE) 100-1 (10-8) Behind, tailed off and pulled up after 8th (canal turn), at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Gericault Roque (FR) 9-1 (10-0) Chased leaders on inside, went 2nd 7th, led 14th, headed and outpaced by winner inside final 150 yards, held on for 2nd, 2nd of 24, 2 3/4l behind Corach Rambler (10-2) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Flight Deck (IRE) 13-2 (11-2) Mid-division, hit 3 out, soon pushed along, headway into 5th before 2 out, stayed on strongly after last to lead 110 yards out on run-in, edged right towards finish, won at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp (2) sft in Dec beating Wowsham (10-12) by 1 1/4l, 10 ran.
Ashtown Lad (IRE) 10-1 (11-5) Midfield on outside, awkward 2nd, took closer order 11th, not fluent 14th, chased leader 17th, close up 5 out, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 23, 25 1/2l behind Win My Wings (11-5) at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Remastered 15-2 (10-11) Held up in touch, went 2nd before 8th, not fluent next, led after 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened before last, 9th of 21, dist behind Party Business (10-10) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Milan Bridge (IRE) 11-10 (12-0) Tracked leader, pushed along to challenge 3 out, led approaching 2 out, ridden clear between last two, stayed on well, won at Fontwell 2m 6f (4) gd in Apr beating Hecouldbetheone (12-0) by 8 1/2l, 3 ran.
Johnson's Blue (IRE) 7-2fav (10-10) Made all, wandered into 2nd, clear after last, stayed on well, won at Cartmel 2m 6f hcp (3) gd in Jul beating Belles Benefit (10-8) by 9 1/2l, 12 ran.
Lisnagar Oscar (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Prominent, slow jump and lost place 9th, weakened quickly and pulled up, at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
