never travelling in rear, mistake and driven 11th, tailed off and pulled up before 4 out
held up in mid-division, headway to modest 7th after 4 out, went poor 5th after 2 out
mid-division, headway to chase leaders 4 out, weakened approaching next, tailed off
led after 4th, made rest, hit 16th, hit 3 out, clear next, blundered last, stayed on strongly
went right at some fences, held up towards rear, struggling 14th, tailed off
held up towards rear, blundered 3rd, headway 11th, chased leaders 13th, every chance when blundered 4 out, well beaten 5th when blundered badly 2 out, tailed off
in touch, disputing 3rd after 4 out, weakened before 2 out
always in rear, never travelled, tailed off and never a factor
took keen hold, held up towards rear, hit 15th, some headway next, behind when pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, towards rear when mistakes 10th and next, ridden in mid-division 15th, no chance when blundered 3 out, tailed off
prominent until weakened before 16th, soon behind, tailed off 4 out, pulled up soon after
in touch, mistake 14th, lost place after 16th, soon behind and pulled up before 3 out
led until after 4th, always prominent, chased winner from 12th, ridden before 3 out, no impression from 2 out, weakened to 3rd flat
towards rear, mistake 13th, modest headway from after 4 out, never in contention, tailed off
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders from 4 out, 4th when blundered 3 out, went 2nd soon after last, no chance with winner hung badly right flat
chased leaders until ridden not keen lost place and in rear 10th, blundered 12th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 16th
mid-division, ridden towards rear 15th, soon lost touch, tailed off
The quirky Junior should be a factor here if consenting to put his best foot forward but he's unpredictable and therefore an unappealing betting medium. Midnight Chase is far more reliable and arrives with a great record at the track but this brave front-runner may struggle to contain these now the handicapper has had his say and we'll instead side with OGEE. A Grade One winning hurdler, Renee Robeson's horse had plenty go against him when last seen at Aintree and is better judged on a fine third at the Festival. He may well have won that race had he not blundered two from home which makes a 5lb rise appear reasonable while his record when fresh - he's won on his last two seasonal returns - completes the case. Character Building looked like winning on his return at Aintree and is a threat to all in that sort of form along with Any Currency, who appears well treated and could improve for the headgear. Razor Royale is a course winner representing a yard who enjoy success at this meeting and isn't without each-way appeal along with Tricky Trickster, who looks set to pick up a decent pot at some point but perhaps with this run behind him.
Tricky Trickster (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Towards rear, hampered 20th, headway into mid-division 27th, no further progress, 9th of 40, 50l behind Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
From Dawn To Dusk 17-2 (11-4) Raced in rear, slow 7th, headway 14th, chased leader after 3 out, soon hard driven, weakened before last, 3rd of 13, 11l behind Massini's Maguire (11-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Razor Royale (IRE) 20-1 (11-1) Close up, ridden after 5 out, weakened from 3 out, 4th of 30, 34l behind Merigo (10-0) at Ayr 4m hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr.
Midnight Chase 6-1 (11-0) Led, headed narrowly when hit 9th, led again 14th, ridden 2 out, 5 lengths clear last, stayed on well flat, won at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct beating Lacdoudal (10-13) by 10l, 10 ran.
Eric's Charm (FR) 33-1 (11-6) Led, jumped right 2nd, headed 5th, lost place after 9th, 10th of 13, well behind Massini's Maguire (11-3) at Ascot 3m listed hcp chs (1) gd in Oct.
Ogee 11-4fav (11-4) Chased leaders, badly hampered 11th, lost place, headway 2 out, weakened after last, 8th of 10, 10l behind Burton Port (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Bluesea Cracker (IRE) 11-2 (9-11) Mid-division best, 10th before straight, soon no extra under pressure, 12th of 14, 15l behind Sweet Shock (10-6) at Naas 2m 4f hcp hdl sft in Oct.
Character Building (IRE) 6-1fav (11-11) Held up behind, hampered 3rd, headway 4 out, ridden to challenge between last 2, led soon after last, no extra when headed towards finish, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Alderburn (11-3) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 (2) gs in Oct.
New Alco (FR) 20-1 (10-10) In rear, pecked 12th, never dangerous, 17th of 24, well behind Chief Dan George (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Mar.
Ballyfitz 50-1 (10-9) Always behind, fell 22nd, in a race won by Don't Push It (11-5) at Aintree 4m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Apr, 40 ran.
Gentle Ranger (IRE) 10-3fav (11-12) Led, jumped left 6th, headed approaching 13th, weakened after 5 out, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Etxalar (10-10) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct, 15 ran.
Giles Cross (IRE) 9-1 (10-11) In touch, mistake 2nd, led 14th until next, remained prominent until after 20th, weakened 4 out, 3rd of 17, well behind Synchronised (11-5) at Uttoxeter 4m 1f lstd hcp chs (1) hvy in Mar.
Junior 5-2 (11-5) Led and disputed, led until after 3rd, led 4th until 6th, led 11th, made rest, over 2 lengths clear last, kept on well, won at Taunton 2m 7f nov chs (4) gs in Apr beating Recif De Thaix (11-7) by 3l, 6 ran.
Lead On (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Behind, under pressure when hit 11th, mistake next, weakened 4 out, 6th of 10, 25l behind Midnight Chase (11-0) at Cheltenham 3m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Oct.
Any Currency (IRE) 5-2fav (10-12) Led until 3rd, prominent, reminders after 7th, switched right approaching last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Rif (10-12) at Towcester 3m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct.
Zacharova (IRE) 20-1 (11-3) Mid-division on inside, lost place 18th, towards rear when mistake next, headway under pressure when blundered 4 out, ridden and stayed on to chase leading pair 2 out, no impression, 3rd of 13, 3l behind Gentle Ranger (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Wind Instrument (IRE) 9-1 (11-3) Tracked leader, led 17th, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching last, no extra flat, 3rd of 10, 8l behind Ouzbeck (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in Apr.
Qhilimar (FR) 12-1 (9-11) Mid-division, never dangerous, 13th of 27, well behind Always Waining (10-0) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gs in Apr.
