2nd or 3rd, led after 2 out, stayed on, driven out
held up well in rear, headway from 15th, mistake 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
held up in 4th, closed 14th, mistake 3 out, outpaced next, weakened before last
led, ridden and headed after 2 out, 3rd and one pace from last
held up, took keen hold, headway 12th, mistake 14th, struggling 4 out, well beaten next, pulled up before 2 out
2nd or 3rd until 14th, rallied 3 out, chased winner when mistake last, stayed on
jumped right, held up, slow and dropped to last 7th, not fluent 9th, jumped badly right and well beaten 15th, pulled up before 3 out
NonRunner
Virgilio won this last year and is only 3lb higher so can’t be ignored. Ballyalton deserves reward for some solid efforts in decent company while Winter Lion left previous efforts behind when scoring at Cheltenham. ANOTHER HERO also won last time at Cheltenham, out-battling Singlefarmpayment. The better surface that day suited Jonjo O’Neill’s nine-year-old, who can follow up off a 5lb higher mark. There are stamina concerns surrounding Monbeg River and Knockgraffon, who is only a pound higher than when winning at Musselburgh in January.
Virgilio (FR) 50-1 (10-8) Hamperd 1st, behind, fell 6th (bechers), at Aintree 4m 2f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
Knockgraffon (IRE) 14-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway 9th, mistake next, not fluent 12th, struggling after 3 out, plugged on, no impression, 6th of 16, 13 1/4l behind Traffic Fluide (10-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Another Hero (IRE) 8-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders 14th, challenged and badly bumped 2 out, soon led, joined last, driven and stayed on towards finish, all out, won at Cheltenham 3m 2f hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Singlefarmpayment (11-4) by shd, 13 ran.
Monbeg River (IRE) 25-1 (11-1) In touch, fell 1st, at Ayr 2m 4f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
Colms Dream (IRE) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division early, 8th at 6th, no impression from before 3 out and no extra when pulled up before 2 out, at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp sft in Apr.
Winter Lion (IRE) 8-1 (10-12) Held up towards rear, slightly hampered 5th, steady headway approaching 13th, went 2nd 3 out, led next, stayed on well, driven out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Pure Vision (11-4) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Bearly Legal (IRE) 50-1 (10-0) Held up mid-division, headway 11th to chase leaders, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 12th of 16, dist behind Thomas Patrick (10-10) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Apr.
Ballyalton (IRE) 11-1 (10-12) Mid-division, tracked leaders 4 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, never on terms, 5th of 27, 20 1/4l behind Ultragold (11-1) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp (1) hvy in Apr.
