jumped right, made all, mistake 4 out, ridden clear before last, stayed on well
tracked leaders, mistake 4th, chased winner before 2 out, no impression approaching last, lost 2nd and no extra flat
in touch in mid-division on outside, closed 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up after last
chased winner until before 2 out, went 2nd again flat, kept on, no impression
held up in rear, took keen hold, headway before 5th, shaken up after 4 out, not fluent next, soon weakened
chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden and weakened after 3 out
held up in mid-division struggling 4 out
held up in rear, took keen hold, well beaten 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, slow 5th, headway from 3 out, went 4th before 2 out, stayed on, never dangerous
NonRunner
Though a bumper winner here, Chuvelo has proved expensive to follow over hurdles and appears to be regressing. Edinburgh Castle won on the Flat for Andrew Balding but has been with Jonjo O’Neill for less than a week and may need more time. Castel Gandolfo handled soft ground in Ireland and get a first chance to compete on a rain-softened surface over hurdles with Astroman a likely improver. PUNCTUATION has just one career victory to his name but was thought good enough to run in last year’s Queen’s Vase at Ascot. He’s certainly built for jumping so we’ll take a chance that wind surgery will allow him to fulfil his potential. Sammeo will need to jump much better that at Uttoxeter to figure.
Chuvelo (IRE) 5-4fav (11-2) Chased leaders, mistake 1st, went 2nd after 3rd, not fluent 5th, jumped right and mistake 3 out, soon lost 2nd and well held, 3rd of 10, dist behind Stepney Causeway (10-8) at Catterick 2m mdn (4) gs in Mar.
Edinburgh Castle (IRE) 11-4fav (8-12) In touch in mid-division, headway over 3f out, not much room over 2f out, close 3rd when not clear run over 1f out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Buriram (9-3) at Chester 1m 6f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
Past Master 8-1 (9-13) Held up in mid-division on inside, pushed along over 3f out, headway looking for room over 2f out, ridden chasing leaders over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 9, 5 1/4l behind Marlborough Sounds (10-0) at Kempton 2m hcp (4) pol in Sep.
Astroman 17-2 (9-9) Tracked leaders, joined leaders over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 14, 20l behind Sulochana (8-13) at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (6) gf in Apr.
Punctuation 13-2 (10-7) Chased leaders, carried right 1st, led 4th until 4 out, chased leader, pushed along before next and dropped to 3rd, weakened soon after, 6th of 11, dist behind Osprey Call (11-2) at Doncaster 2m 1f (4) gs in Feb.
Sammeo (FR) 3-1 (10-12) Tracked leader, not fluent 2nd, mistake 3rd, not fluent 4th, ridden and weakened after 3 out, 7th of 14, 31 1/4l behind Thomas Kershaw (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m mdn (4) gd in May.
Kalinda (IRE) 80-1 (11-0) Towards rear, struggling 4th, 12th of 16, dist behind Nina The Terrier (11-0) at Warwick 2m mdn (4) gs in May.
Rosierita 150-1 (10-6) Chased leaders, weakened 4 out, tailed off, last of 8, dist behind L'Homme Presse (10-13) at Chepstow 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Sinndarella (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) Held up, pushed along and headway 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 7th of 13, 11 3/4l behind The Resdev Way (10-12) at Wolverhampton 2m 1f hcp (6) pol in Apr.
Castel Gandolfo (IRE) 15-8 (10-11) Jumped left, led and raced lazily, slow 1st, slowed markedly and veered left 2nd, ridden before 3 out, mistake 2 out, headed flat, stayed on, 2nd of 4, nk behind Ernesto (11-2) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) gf in Apr.
