prominent, led 8th, headed 6 out, weakened 2 out
always prominent, led 6 out, headed after 3 out, one pace next, rallied last, stayed on to chase winner flat, no extra and held inside final 100 yards
mid-division, driven to chase leaders 4 out, kept on same pace from next, never threatened
held up behind, headway on outside 5 out, chased leaders after 3 out, soon ridden, switched inside before next, rallied to lead last, edged right flat, stayed on well final 100 yards
in touch, lost place 8th, no danger after
chased leaders to after 4 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, chased leaders 11th, ridden and kept on same pace from 2 out, never on terms
mid-division, chased leaders on inside 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, never on terms
held up behind, headway on outer 10th, challenged 3 out, every chance next, soon ridden, no extra flat, lost 4th near finish
mid-division, outpaced 3 out, ridden last, edged left and stayed on under pressure flat, went 4th near finish, never nearer
led to 8th, with leader, hit and lost place 6 out, soon behind, pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, ridden and weakened after 4 out
mid-division on inside, lost place and behind from 6th, no danger after
always towards rear
always in rear
tracked leaders, outpaced before 3 out, soon weakened
always prominent, led narrowly after 3 out, ridden after next, headed last, kept on same pace in 3rd flat
tracked leaders, lost place 6 out, soon behind
Bear's Affair ran a cracker when second in the Foxhunters’ at Aintree but a case can also be made for eighth-placed Distime on this better ground. SALUBRIOUS looked a smart recruit to the hunter chase ranks when bolting up at Exeter. A smart chaser and top-class hurdler in his younger days, he may have too much speed for the majority of these. Shotavodka’s form over this sort of trip lately stands up to scrutiny and he’ll be hard to keep out of the frame. He beat last year’s winner Full Trottle at Hereford in January and is better off at the weights. Mr Mercurial is a previous course winner but has been doing his winning recently at Ludlow and the drop back in distance could be a negative. The others probably have a bit to find to feature in a very competitive finale.
Forever My Friend (IRE) 25-1 (12-4) Mid-division, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, dist behind Full Trottle (12-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f (5) gs in Apr.
Full Trottle (IRE) 13-8fav (12-4) In rear, headway from 3 out, led after last, kept on well, won at Ludlow 2m 4f (5) gs in Apr beating Queen Olivia (11-7) by 2 3/4l, 11 ran.
Kilfinichen Bay (IRE) 8-1 (12-6) Chased leaders on inside, pushed along when left 3rd 4 out, no impression before next, lost modest 3rd towards finis, 4th of 8, 29 1/2l behind Marinero (12-6) at Ascot 2m 5f fll (5) sft in Mar.
Mr Mercurial (IRE) 4-5fav (12-4) Tracked leader, led 6th, pushed along 4out, stayed on strongly from next, won at Ludlow 3m (5) sft in Apr beating Queen Olivia (11-7) by 1l, 3 ran.
Bear's Affair (IRE) 20-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway before 5 out, ridden to chase winner before elbow, every chance run-in, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 21, 2 1/2l behind Balnaslow (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.
Lined With Silver (IRE) 11-2 (11-1) Tracked leader, mistake 3rd, weakened after 4 out, 5th of 6, dist behind Stoical Patient (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp (5) gd in Nov.
Numbercruncher (IRE) 25-1 (12-0) Mid-division, headway halfway to chase leaders, every chance when blundered and unseated rider 4 out, at Ludlow 2m 4f (5) gs in Apr.
Salubrious (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Jumped well, tracked leaders, led 9th, made rest, travelling well approaching 4 out, stayed on strongly, won at Exeter 2m 3f (6) hvy in Apr beating O Maonlai (11-12) by 16l, 7 ran.
Shotavodka (IRE) 11-4 (12-2) Held up behind, headway 11th, pressed front pair 3 out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase winner flat, just held towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Galway Jack (12-6) at Southwell 2m 4f (6) gd in Apr.
Crazy Jack (IRE) 25-1 (11-10) Towards rear, hampered 4 out, never dangerous, 3rd of 11, 9 3/4l behind Full Trottle (12-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f (5) gs in Apr.
Creepy (IRE) 2-1jfav (12-0) (cp) 3rd when blun & ur 9, at Kimble 3m sft in Mar.
Cyrien Star 6-1 (12-0) Hdwy 13; wknd 4 out; t.o & pu last, at Andoversford 3m hvy in Apr.
Distime (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) Mid-division, blundered 11th (foinavon), pushed along after 4 out, ridden before last, soon weakened, 8th of 21, 24 3/4l behind Balnaslow (12-0) at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.
Mitebeall Forluck 12-1 (12-7) (cp) in tch til wknd 15; pu 2 out, at Pyle 3m gd in Apr.
Ni Sin E Mo Ainm (IRE) 1-2fav (11-2) Led til hdd 2 out; ev ch last; r.o; fin nk 2nd; disq, 2nd of 3, shd behind Kimora (10-2) at Andoversford 3m hvy in Apr.
Red Inca 25-1 (11-9) Led 6-9; chsd wnr 15; wknd qckly nxt; pu 3 out, at Woodford 3m sft in Apr.
Silver Roque (FR) 7-1 (12-0) Prominent, blundered 8th, not fluent 11th, weakened and pulled up after 3 out, at Bangor 2m 4f (6) hvy in Feb.
Tinelyra (IRE) 9-4 (12-0) Led til hdd bypassing 8; chsd wnr 13; wknd app 2 out, 2nd of 4, 30l behind Colbert Station (12-0) at Andoversford 3m hvy in Apr.
Maryam Jaan 8-1 (11-7) (tt) led to 3 & 7-8; wknd qckly 10; wl bhnd when pu 12, at Badbury Rings 3m in Apr.
