chased leaders, mistake 11th, slow jump and tired quickly 3 out, soon pulled up
close up, pushed along and weakened tamely before 2 out
mid-division, blundered 4th, dropped to rear and always struggling thereafter
mid-division, effort and steady headway before 4 out, went fourth 4 out, pressed leader 2 out, pushed along and led before last, drew clear run-in, eased towards finish, comfortably
chased leaders, ridden before 2 out, stayed on one pace
mid-division, pushed along 4 out, stayed on from 3 out, never on terms
towards rear mid-division, pushed along before 3 out, stayed on but not pace to challenge
in rear, mistake 3rd, ridden and plenty to do 4 out, stayed on well from 3 out, never nearer
led, bad mistake 11th, not fluent 3 out, pushed along and headed before last, kept on, no extra
in rear, always behind
always rear, mistake 1st, never showed
Rose Dobbin trained last year’s winner so Le Cheval Noir may have been laid out for this. In common with most of these, he won over hurdles last season at a decent level including at this very meeting. Glenduff has already run four times over fences and placed twice in this grade so should go well. Only a head separated Ballybegg and Papa Tango Charly over hurdles at Wetherby in February and they meet on similar terms while Small Present ended last season over the smaller obstacles by completing a hat-trick. Karl Philippe and Killer Kane both look likely to do well over fences but DREAMS OF HOME is only five and looks an even better prospect. A half-brother to the useful staying chaser Minellacelebration, he can extend his winning run on his chasing bow.
Ballybegg (IRE) 11-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, headway after 4 out, lost place from 3 out, 9th of 19, 27 1/4l behind Hometown Boy (11-0) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (1) gs in Apr.
Dreams Of Home (IRE) 2-5fav (12-0) Raced in third, went second 4 out, led before next, under pressure 2 out but stayed on well, won at Newcastle 2m (4) gs in Mar beating Coolkill (11-0) by 9l, 11 ran.
Small Present (IRE) 10-3fav (11-6) Mid-division, headway chasing leaders after 4 out, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on strongly run-in to lead post, won at Haydock 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr beating Colonial Dreams (11-10) by ns, 15 ran.
Papa Tango Charly (FR) 4-5fav (11-4) Led, pressed by the eventual 3rd approaching 3 out, faced a further challenge 2 out, disputed lead last, ridden and dueled with eventual second run-in, always doing enough closing stages, won at Worcester 2m 4f mdn (4) gd in Jun beating Prime Pretender (11-4) by 4l, 3 ran.
Killer Kane (IRE) 5-6fav (11-2) Led until after 1st, chased clear leader, left in lead 2nd, made rest, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (4) gs in Mar beating Our Surprise (11-2) by 5 1/2l, 15 ran.
Le Cheval Noir (IRE) 12-1 (11-10) Chased leaders on inside, weakened before 3 out, 7th of 9, 32 3/4l behind Aquila Sky (11-4) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Mr Scrumpy 20-1 (11-8) In touch early, soon dropped to rear, looked reluctant when pulled up entering straight on first circuit, at Market Rasen 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Portstorm 11-2 (11-10) Held up in last trio, bit closer at 7th, chasing leaders and hung left from 3 out, left modest 3rd next, weakened into 4th between last 2, 4th of 10, 19 3/4l behind Sultans Pride (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
Karl Philippe (FR) 4-5fav (11-6) Mistakes, led, ridden and headed 2 out, weakened flat and lost 2nd, 3rd of 8, 15 1/2l behind Wetlands (11-12) at Carlisle 2m 3f (4) gs in Apr.
Glenduff (IRE) 9-2 (11-8) Held up, headway 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, 5th of 8, 10 1/2l behind Landofsmiles (11-4) at Perth 3m hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Flower Of Scotland (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Midfield, headway to chase leader 8th, close up 9th (water), almost upsides 13th, ridden before 3 out where jumped right, weakened before 2 out, 5th of 6, 8l behind Pink Legend (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gd in Apr.
