chased leader, chased new leader after 9th, led briefly 14th, chased leader, chance when fell 2 out
chased leaders, weakened 11th, tailed off
chased leaders, slightly hampered 5th, left 2nd 2 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
behind most of way
chased leaders, led after 4 out, left clear 2 out, stayed on well
held up towards rear, mistake 12th, never on terms
held up and always towards rear, tailed off when blundered 13th, pulled up soon after
held up towards rear, headway chasing leaders before 4 out, left 4th next, one pace and no impression
led until after 9th, chased leaders, mistake and weakened 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, weakened 3 out, badly hampered and unseated rider next
soon chasing leaders, led after 9th until 5 out, chased leaders, weakened before 4 out
chased leaders, left 3rd and slightly hampered 2 out, no impression
held up in last pair, headway on outside chasing leaders 10th, mistake and ridden 12th, soon weakened
Harry Skelton prefers Born Survivor to last year’s winner Value At Risk and his chance is respected after a break. Nicky Henderson runs Gold Present and River Wylde from the top of the weights but neither has really shone this campaign. Tommy Silver has more to do than when successful at Ludlow but Forth Bridge certainly wasn’t winning out of turn at Kempton and waiting tactics will probably be employed again here. THEO has raced mainly over 2m over fences but he does stay this longer trip and arrives off the back of solid efforts at Doncaster and in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham. Dimple has been making hay on northern tracks and Beggar's Wishes and consistent course winner Monbeg River also warrant a mention.
Gold Present (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) Raced wide in mid-division, went left 2nd, weakened 3 out, 9th of 12, 36 1/2l behind Valtor (11-3) at Ascot 3m hcp lst (1) sft in Dec.
River Wylde (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Always towards rear on outside, lost touch 8th, pulled up before next (water), at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Sizing Granite (IRE) 11-1 (11-9) Towards rear, not fluent 6th, mistake 9th, tailed off 2 out, last of 12, dist behind Aaron Lad (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.
Beggar's Wishes (IRE) 9-1 (11-12) Tracked front pair, lost place and behind 2 out (usual 4 out), soon outpaced, ridden and stayed on to dispute 2nd closing stages, no chance with easy winner, 3rd of 4, 20 1/2l behind Dimple (10-3) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp (2) gd in Jan.
Born Survivor (IRE) 7-2 (10-11) Led 1st until 2nd, chased leader until before 8th, went 2nd again before 13th until approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 7, 22 3/4l behind Aso (11-12) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Jan.
Theo (IRE) 33-1 (10-12) Some mistakes, held up in rear, headway 3 out, kept on, never on terms with leaders, 6th of 19, 9 3/4l behind Croco Bay (10-12) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Tommy Silver (FR) 7-2 (11-6) Pressed front pair on outside, went 2nd before 12th, led next, made rest, clear when not fluent 2 out, driven out, kept on well, won at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Feb beating Calipso Collonges (11-3) by 4l, 6 ran.
Forth Bridge 7-1 (11-3) Held up behind, headway to track leaders after 4 out, poised to challenge after next, led between last 2, clear last, pushed out, readily, won at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar beating Onefortheroadtom (10-11) by 6l, 9 ran.
Dimple (FR) 7-4 (11-4) Led, headed before 2 out, weakened before last, 4th of 6, 33 1/2l behind Imperial Aura (11-4) at Newcastle 2m 5f (3) gs in Feb.
Voix D'Eau (FR) 100-1 (10-9) Never better than mid-division, lost place 4 out, behind from next, 15th of 22, dist behind Siruh Du Lac (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gs in Mar.
Monbeg River (IRE) 25-1 (10-6) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, pushed along from 13th, narrowly headed 2 out, stayed on same pace, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 6l behind Go Conquer (11-10) at Doncaster 3m hcp lst (1) gd in Jan.
Value At Risk 16-1 (11-9) Mid-division on outside, close up 7th, pressed leader next, blundered and lost place 5 out, behind from next, no danger after, 6th of 9, 23 3/4l behind Forth Bridge (11-3) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Mar.
Drumconnor Lad (IRE) 16-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders on outer, ridden in 7th after 3 out, no impression, 8th of 13, 34 1/2l behind Darver Star (10-9) at Wexford 2m 4f hcp Yielding in Apr.
