led to 7th, chased leaders, ridden and weakened 3 out
held up mid-division, lost place 7th, weakened after next, tailed off when jumped left last
held up in touch, steady headway approaching 3 out, led between last 2, driven and drew clear flat
held up in rear, outpaced after 4 out, weakened and pulled up before next
mid-division, hit 7th, soon lost place, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway after 4 out, outpaced next, jumped left and no impression from 2 out
tracked leaders, effort 3 out, outpaced next, ridden and kept on to go 2nd flat, no impression
held up, outpaced after 4 out, never on terms
tracked leader, led 7th, jumped left 2 out, headed between last 2, no extra flat
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
NEVERTIKA may be worth an interest here, King Caine has to be feared and many will be prepared to give Knockavilla another chance. Auroras Encore may have been 50-1 when he scored here in the spring but he is just 10lbs higher this time around and has to be given a live chance with his stable going well. Serabad represents last year's successful trainer and is worth a second look whilst Mendo has enough form in the book to believe that he can be competitive if he's not too ring rusty. Gold Gun is considered but King Caine has a more obvious chance and is open to improvement after just a handful of starts. He could face fierce opposition from Knockavilla who was made a short-priced favourite at Wetherby only to come a cropper at the fourth. That fall brought about an end to his unbeaten record but he's clearly useful and is at the right end of the weights. The selection never threatened to get involved on his reappearance at this track last month but that should have brought him on and provided him with a confidence boost after a couple of falls over fences in the spring. He'll no doubt resume his career in that discipline in due course but he looks capable of landing a decent prize over hurdles first and Nevertika may be able to do so here.
Auroras Encore (IRE) 14-1 (10-11) Prominent, led after 10th, headed before 3 out, weakened flat, 5th of 22, 13l behind Forest Pennant (10-13) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Premier Dane (IRE) 9-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, challenging when fell 2 out in race won by Poquelin (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs (2) gd in Oct, 10 ran.
Serabad (FR) 33-1 (9-11) Towards rear, headway to track leaders 4 out, ridden and every chance 3 out, weakened from next, 7th of 16, 23l behind Border Castle (9-13) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Good Spirit (FR) 20-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden after 8th, soon struggling, well behind 3 out, 8th of 13, 48l behind My Way de Solzen (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov chs Grd 1 (1) sft in Mar '07.
Gold Gun (USA) 14-1 (11-3) Mid-division, chased leaders when hit 5th, weakened 8th, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Fresh Winter (11-1) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy in Mar, 10 ran.
King Caine (IRE) 15-2 (10-7) Held up, headway after 7th, ridden to chase winner after 2 out, not fluent last, kept on same pace, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Irish Legend (10-3) at Chepstow 2m 4f lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Oct.
Nevertika (FR) 33-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 4 out, never dangerous, 9th of 14, 22l behind French Opera (11-8) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gs in Oct.
Newman Des Plages (FR) 28-1 (11-0) Mistakes, held up in last, still in rear when fell 2 out in race won by Parsons Legacy (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs (2) gd in Oct, 17 ran.
Knockavilla (IRE) 2-1fav (10-11) Led, headed 3rd, in 2nd when fell at the 4th in race won by European Dream (11-4) at Wetherby 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs, 11 ran.
Mendo 12-1 (11-2) Held up, headway approaching 9th, not much room and lost place on inside after 10th, stayed on from 2 out, no impression on leaders, 9th of 22, 19l behind Forest Pennant (10-13) at Aintree 3m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Sunday City (JPN) 7-1 (11-4) Held up mid-division, blundered 6th, lost place from next, tailed off when pulled up 5 out in race won by Nevertika (11-8) at Doncaster 2m 3f nov chs (3) gd in Jan, 11 ran.
Arctic Wings (IRE) 66-1 (10-4) Held up, keen, in rear when fell 4 out in race won by Crack Away Jack (11-7) at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Oct, 12 ran.
