keen tracked leaders, hit 3 out, led between last two, ridden and ran on
close up, ridden and headway 2 out, kept on one pace
in rear when brought down 4th
led, ridden and headed 2 out, soon weakened
held up, pushed along when hit 4 out, ridden and outpaced 2 out
close up, hit and fell 4th
pulled hard, held up, ridden and headway 2 out, chased winner when hit last, kept on one pace
tracked leaders, hit 4 out, ridden to lead 2 out, soon headed, weakened flat
Brianstorm was well beaten in a Grade 1 at Aintree when last in action in April but had shown good progress in novice events before that. Chatez is fit from racing on the Flat but hasn’t won over hurdles since 2015 while Jolly's Cracked It won a Grade 3 here in the same year but has raced just the once since and that was in 2016. Testing ground at Newton Abbot looked a legitimate excuse for a poor effort from Flying Tiger last time while Jumping Jack has only won a maiden hurdle so far and it could pay to stick with DISTINGO. Gary Moore’s charge ran well for second at Huntingdon on a recent reappearance and looks capable of scoring off his current mark on that evidence.
Jolly's Cracked It (FR) 12-1 (11-9) Mid-division, in touch 5th, weakened after 3 out, 13th of 19, 36 1/2l behind Brain Power (11-11) at Ascot 2m hcp (1) gs in Dec.
Distingo (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Close up, short of room 3 out, chased clear winner next, ridden and stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Mystic Sky (10-10) at Huntingdon 2m hcp (2) gd in Nov.
Flying Tiger (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Took keen hold, tracked rival pair, went 2nd at 3rd, led after 5th, hit next, headed after 7th, behind from next, weakened and eased after 4 out, continued, tailed off, last of 3, dist behind Maria's Benefit (10-7) at Newton Abbot 2m (3) hvy in Oct.
Brianstorm (IRE) 33-1 (11-4) Led, headed before mistake 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last, at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr.
Shoal Bay (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Prominent on outside, not fluent 2nd, mistake next, not fluent 4 out, lost place 2 out, soon weakened, 10th of 16, 16l behind Storm Rising (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Scheu Time (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Soon led, pushed along and headed approaching 2 out where mistake, soon no impression in 3rd and mistake last, no extra, 4th of 12, 13 1/4l behind Golden Spear (10-11) at Down Royal 2m hcp Good - Yielding in Nov.
Chatez (IRE) 7-1 (9-3) Mid-division, headway on wide outside tracking leaders over 2f out, ridden to lead entering final furlong, headed and unable to quicken close home, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Dukhan (8-6) at Newbury 1m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Jumping Jack (IRE) 14-1 (10-0) Held up in rear, headway before 2 out, weakened last, 7th of 9, 21 1/4l behind Fidux (11-2) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gd in Nov.
