chased leader, left in lead 2nd, clear before next, reduced lead when hit 4 out, headed next, weakened quickly
held up towards rear, badly hampered 8th, hampered again bend on long run and switched left after 3 out closing on inside when hampered again 2 out, no chance after
held up in rear, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, weakened between last 2
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, led run-in, stayed on well
led, went right 1st, jinked badly right and unseated rider next
tracked leaders, led 3 out joined next, ridden and headed between last 2, weakened run-in
mistake 1st, held up in last pair, steady headway on outside approaching 4 out, chased leaders before 2 out, weakened between last 2
mid-division, closer at 6th, chased leaders after 3 out, 2nd and every chance 2 out, lost 2nd last, kept on same pace in 3rd
tracking leaders when fell 8th
mid-division, smooth headway on outside tracking leaders before 2 out, ridden to lead between last 2, headed and unable to quicken run-in
left tracking leader 2nd, tracked new leader after 3 out, every chance when went right and mistake 2 out, soon weakened quickly
Unowhatimeanharry won this Grade 1 in 2016 and ground out a second victory in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury at the end of last month. But he’ll be 11 in a couple of weeks’ time and is probably not the force of old. He was only third last year behind SAM SPINNER and Jedd O’Keeffe’s relentless galloper might be the one to beat again with ground conditions in his favour. He wasn’t at his best at Newbury but will have come on a bundle for the run and cheekpieces might help him concentrate better. Paisley Park has bags of potential but this is a big step up from handicaps and he may have to wait for another day. Call Me Lord needed his reappearance last season and tackles 3m for the first time. He should stay but is having his first run at the highest level. Agrapart won the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham at the start of the year and is weighted to reverse Aintree running with Unowhatimeanharry so shouldn’t be underestimated.
Agrapart (FR) 10-1 (11-6) Led until not fluent 4 out, mistake next, soon outpaced, stayed on flat, 4th of 5, 4 3/4l behind Wholestone (11-6) at Aintree 2m 4f (2) gd in Nov.
Call Me Lord (FR) 6-4jfav (11-0) Bit keen, tracked leaders on inside travelling well, led before 2 out, soon clear, mistake last, kept on strongly, won at Sandown 2m 5f (1) gs in Apr beating Lil Rockerfeller (11-6) by 16l, 6 ran.
Garo De Juilley (FR) 10-1 (11-2) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders 5th, not fluent next, outpaced 4 out, rallying when mistake 2 out, stayed on well closing stages, 4th of 11, 4 3/4l behind Black Mischief (11-0) at Haydock 2m 3f hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Paisley Park (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Held up in touch, took closer order 4 out, chased leaders next, hard ridden to challenge last, stayed on strongly to lead last strides, won at Haydock 3m hcp (1) gd in Nov beating Shades Of Midnight (11-2) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Sam Spinner 3-1 (11-6) Chased leader, pushed along after 4 out, ridden and lost 2nd before 2 out, weakening when badly hampered and unseated rider after 2 out, at Newbury 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Soul Emotion (FR) 5-1fav (11-6) Raced wide throughout, mid-division, smooth headway chasing leaders after 3 out, led 2 out, soon clear, very easily, won at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Apr beating Wolf Of Windlesham (11-1) by 4l, 19 ran.
The Mighty Don (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Held up in last pair, headway approaching 2 out, modest 3rd before the last, one pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 4 1/2l behind Unowhatimeanharry (11-0) at Newbury 3m (1) sft in Nov.
Top Notch (FR) 4-5fav (11-6) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd 4th (water), led going well 2 out, in command when went left last, stayed on strongly, won at Sandown 2m 7f (1) gs in Apr beating Art Mauresque (11-0) by 2 3/4l, 6 ran.
Unowhatimeanharry 11-4fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along after 4 out, 2nd before 2 out, led between last 2, ridden clear run-in, won at Newbury 3m (1) sft in Nov beating Clyne (11-0) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
West Approach 25-1 (10-11) Raced wide towards rear, headway and in touch 15th, chasing leaders when hung left from 4 out, weakened next, 5th of 12, dist behind Sizing Tennessee (11-3) at Newbury 3m 2f hcp (1) sft in Dec.
Younevercall (IRE) 11-2 (11-11) Chased leaders on outside, led 4 out, ridden and came clear between last 2, easily, won at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) gd in Nov beating Canyon City (10-10) by 10l, 13 ran.
