held up, headway after 7th, jumped left from 8th, weakened after 9th
tracked leader, led 7th, jumped right and not fluent 3 out, headed 2 out, soon held
held up, headway 6th, tracked leader 3 out, led 2 out, clear when jumped left last
towards rear, hit 2nd, blundered 3rd, soon driven, behind when pulled up before 8th
led, mistake 3rd, headed 7th, weakened 4 out, stayed poor 3rd
in touch, weakened 7th, pulled up before 10th
towards rear, jumped left 4th, soon ridden, lost touch and pulled up before 8th
tracked leader, lost place 6th, mistake next but continued
JACK THE GIANT faces no easy task on his eagerly awaited return but he should prove good enough to win this valuable pot. Andreas, Lord Henry and Howle Hill all have the ability to be involved. Bleu Superbe's love affair with the track continued last month but this is different gravy and the veteran is readily ignored. We're not quite so keen to dispense with Leslingtaylor who beat Tidal Bay in February but he doesn't appeal as being well handicapped and was well beaten over hurdles here at the start of the month. Andreas' trainer has voiced concerns that his charge may be too high in the weights following his nine length defeat of Lord Henry off levels in April but he has plenty in his favour here and neither runner should be far away if reproducing their best. Howle Hill's run at Exeter is best ignored as he has run his best races on flat tracks but he looks handicapped to the hilt and will need to find some improvement from somewhere. That brings us to the selection and likely favourite who should have more to offer after just six chase starts and a dozen over obstacles in total. The former Arkle third is returning from an injury but connections are sure to have taken every care with an individual that they hold in high regard and Jack The Giant can land this handicap before taking the inevitable step into Graded races.
Andreas (FR) 9-2 (11-2) Chased leader, headway approaching 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, driven out, won at Sandown 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr beating Lord Henry (11-2) by 9l, 11 ran.
Lord Henry (IRE) 9-1 (11-2) Held up, headway from 3 out, stayed on flat, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Andreas (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Jack The Giant (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Held up in touch, headway 11th, led 2 out, not fluent last, ridden out, won at Leicester 2m 4f chs (2) gs in Jan beating Fundamentalist (11-4) by 6l, 5 ran.
Howle Hill (IRE) 7-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders until 4th, soon struggling, ridden when hit 7th, no chance from next, 5th of 9, 33l behind Ashley Brook (10-4) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grd 2 (1) gs.
Enlightenment (IRE) 6-1 (11-3) Led to 4th, chased leader, ridden 4 out, weakened and mistake 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Snoopy Loopy (11-12) at N Abbot 2m 5f lst hcp chs (1) gd in Aug, 13 ran.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 20-1 (10-13) Mid-division until weakened 3 out, 13th of 15, 39l behind Sentry Duty (11-0) at Ascot 2m hcp hdl (2) gd.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 33-1 (10-10) Chasing leaders when fell at the 5th in race won by Bleu Superbe (10-6) at Ascot 2m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd, 13 ran.
Bleu Superbe (FR) 20-1 (10-6) Chased leader, hit 7th, ridden to lead approaching 2 out, in command when went left last, ridden out, won at Ascot 2m 1f lst hcp chs (1) gd beating Stan (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 13 ran.
