took keen hold tracking leaders, lost place briefly and pushed along 7th, chased leaders 3 out, led well before 2 out, ridden and joined 2 out, headed going to the last, no chance with easy winner, kept on for clear 2nd
led 1st until approaching 3rd, chased leader until 4 out, weakened quickly next, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
always behind, lost touch 4 out, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out
took keen hold tracking leaders, pushed along after 7th, driven before 2 out, stayed on approaching last, ran on flat, almost snatched 3rd
led until 1st, led again before 3rd, ridden and headed well before 2 out, soon dropped to 3rd and no chance with leading duo, just held on for 3rd
held up but in touch and always going well, smooth headway 6th, tracked leaders 4 out, went 2nd well before 2 out, upsides 2 out, led travelling well going to the last, soon clear, easily
held up in rear, not fluent 5th, never on terms, tailed off
held up in touch, pushed along after 7th, lost place before 4 out, tailed off
tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4 out until well before 2 out, soon weakened and eased, mistakes final 2, tailed off
A very tricky opener with plenty of potential on display. Pleasant Company has to be of interest having trotted up in a bumper here on his debut under Rules. He won over 3m between the flags. Tara Road won a Chepstow bumper earlier this month but the proximity of runner-up Ebony Empress probably gives him a bit to find with Pleasant Company on the form book. Harry's Farewell will be better for his third at Fontwell while Mac's Return must be better than he showed at Ludlow in February but we'll give another chance to ROYAL BOY. This looks a confidence-booster after a traumatic first run over fences last month but he's the form pick on his hurdle form behind Melodic Rendezvous last season and Barry Geraghty prefers him to stablemates Big Hands Harry and Medieval Chapel.
Big Hands Harry 5-1 (10-11) Mid div, 5th 1/2 way, prog 3out, 2nd 2out, rnd to chal bef last, better jump, kow to line, won at Ballysteen 3m ire ptp gd in Apr beating Master Dee (11-7) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Donapollo 50-1 (10-12) Jumped slowly and ridden 6th, always in rear, tailed off, last of 12, well behind Warden Hill (10-12) at Kempton 2m 5f nov hdl (4) gs in Oct.
Mac's Return (IRE) 5-2fav (11-4) Held up in touch, ridden after 8th, weakened before 3 out, tailed off, 9th of 16, well behind One Conemara (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 5f mdn hdl (4) sft in Feb.
Medieval Chapel (FR) 7-4 (11-4) Ww, prog to tr ldrs 4out, ld 2out, sn went on, won at Kirkistown 3m ire ptp sft in Mar beating Thornleigh Ben (12-0) by 3 1/2l, 5 ran.
Pleasant Company (IRE) 11-4fav (11-0) Made all, came clear final 2f, kept on strongly, eased nearing finish, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m NH flat (4) gs in Nov beating Rhapando (11-0) by 8l, 10 ran.
Royal Boy (FR) 10-11fav (11-5) Tracked leading pair, mistake and lost 3rd 8th, never travelled or jumped with any fluency after, struggling when jumped slowly 4 out, no chance after, left poor 3rd and hampered 3 out, 3rd of 4, 44l behind Baby Mix (11-4) at Kempton 2m 4f (3) gd in Nov.
Sacramento King (IRE) 4-1 (11-7) Twrds rr, prog in 5th by 5th, last 6out & 7th 3out, cl en 3rd 2out until no ex in 3rd bef last, kow fin, 3rd of 9, 6l behind Master Dee (11-7) at Bartlemy 3m ire ptp sft in May.
Such A Legend 33-1 (10-11) Made all and soon clear, 100 yards ahead halfway, reduced lead 2f out, kept on well final furlong, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m NH flat (5) gd in Feb beating Beat That (11-2) by 4l, 11 ran.
Tara Road 4-6fav (10-11) Tracked leaders, challenged over 3f out, led over 1f out, ridden and kept on final furlong, won at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) gs beating Ebony Empress (10-9) by 2l, 8 ran.
Harry's Farewell 7-2 (11-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden and no extra from last, 3rd of 13, 14l behind Cole Harden (10-11) at Fontwell 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Nov.
