chased leaders, weakened towards finish
held up towards rear, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up mid-division, ridden 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
made all, soon clear until hit 4 out, ridden out
always behind, pushed along 4th, ridden next, weakened from 4 out, tailed off
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, stayed on well to take 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden after 4 out, never dangerous
in touch, blundered 3 out, chased winner last, lost 3rd towards finish
in touch, one pace from 2 out, stayed on flat
chased winner until approaching 3 out, weakened approaching next
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, mistake when beaten last
held up behind, weakened from 3 out
held up mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, weakened 2 out
held up towards rear, never dangerous, tailed off
Nonrunner
Nonrunner
A very competitive start to the card and RIPPLING RING looks open to plenty of improvement and can take this on his way to better things, while Khachaturian looks a danger. The selection goes well when fresh, as evidenced by his debut win for Paul Nicholls at Doncaster in February. A 14 length defeat in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle was by no means a disgrace and he will meet nothing quite as good as that here. He acts on the ground and the yard maintains a tremendous level of form, so we will side with him. Khachaturian drops back in trip from 2m 4f but he will probably still have enough pace to get very competitive. He won last time at Bangor in good style and handles cut, so he looks likely to figure. French Opera is not proving easy to win with, even for the great Nicky Henderson, but this step up in trip should help to bring about a bit of improvement. He goes on the ground and should be in the mix. Soubriquet likes it here and acts on any ground, so from this mark he looks likely to make his presence felt. Mr Jack Daniels is not out of it if fit enough after a break, but preference here is for Rippling Ring.
Rippling Ring (SAF) 10-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, every chance 2 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace from last, 5th of 22, 14l behind Captain Cee Bee (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m nov hdl Grd 1 (1) gs in Mar.
Pearl King (IRE) 28-1 (11-11) Held up towards rear, not fluent 5th, struggling next, 14th of 16, 27l behind Mirage Dore (10-10) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd.
Ellerslie Tom 4-1 (11-2) Led, jumped slowly and left, very slow when headed 4th, in rear when bad mistake 4 out and pulled up 4 out in race won by Albinus (10-9) at Huntingdon 2m nov chs (3) gs, 7 ran.
French Opera 4-1 (11-5) Raced wide, led 2nd, joined 2 out, soon headed, no chance with very easy winner but clear 2nd, 2nd of 13, 6l behind Palomar (9-13) at Kempton 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Dec.
Freeloader (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, outpaced after 3 out, soon beaten, 10th of 16, 23l behind Katies Tuitor (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Dishdasha (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Mid-division, headway from 3 out, went 2nd after 2 out, led approaching last, went left at flight, soon headed, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 16, 3 1/2l behind Leamington Lad (11-1) at Cheltenham 2m cnd hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd.
Nevertika (FR) 15-8 (11-6) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, hit 2nd, 3 lengths down in 3rd when fell 5 out in race won by Marodima (11-6) at Perth 2m nov chs (2) gs in Apr, 4 ran.
Zanir (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Held up, headway 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 6th of 16, 15l behind Katies Tuitor (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Culcabock (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) Always behind, 5th of 10, 37l behind Overserved (11-10) at Ayr 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Soubriquet (IRE) 50-1 (10-9) Tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, ridden and effort 3 out, went 2nd approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure, 2nd of 14, 1 1/2l behind The Rocking Dock (9-13) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Divine Gift 16-1 (10-5) Held up, headway 5th, ridden 3 out, no impression when mistake next, soon weakened, 9th of 16, 23l behind Katies Tuitor (11-12) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-145 (2) gd in Sept.
Mr Jack Daniells (IRE) 11-4 (11-7) Towards rear, mistake 3rd, headway next, ridden and hit 6th, soon beaten, 4th of 10, 34l behind Is It Me (11-12) at Stratford 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Jul.
Sinatas (GER) 25-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway and effort 3 out, weakened next, 8th of 15, 20l behind De Blanc (11-3) at Perth 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs in Apr.
Folk Tune (IRE) 11-4jt-fav (10-11) Behind, outpaced 3 out, never on terms, 8th of 10, 37l behind Lord Baskerville (10-7) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs in Apr.
Khachaturian (IRE) 11-10fav (11-8) Made all, clear approaching last, won at Bangor 2m 4f nov hdl (3) gd beating Quail (10-7) by 11l, 11 ran.
Dunaskin (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Led, headed 4 out, ridden and led again approaching 2 out, headed approaching last, one pace, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Red Admiral (11-3) at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd.
