tracked leaders, ridden before 2 out, disputing close 2nd when blundered last, not recover, no extra close home
held up, blundered and unseated rider 9th
held up towards rear on outside, mid-division 3rd, hit next, closed 7th, lost place before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, not fluent 2nd, lost place before 3 out
prominent, blundered badly 2nd, bad mistake next, lost place 4th, in rear after 6th, mistakes 7th and 8th, soon well behind and pulled up
mid-division, not fluent 1st, headway 4 out, jumped left and hung left from 2 out, stayed on flat
in touch, blundered 2nd, soon lost place, mistake 4 out, well beaten next
held up in rear, blundered badly 1st and 3rd, mistake 4 out, some headway after 3 out, no impression, blundered 2 out
mid-division, mistake 3rd, headway 8th, lost place 10th, blundered badly 4 out, some progress when blundered 2 out, weakened
prominent, led 4 out, headed when not fluent 2 out, weakened flat
tracked leaders on outside, challenged 3rd, lost place before 2 out
always handy, led 2 out, headed last, stayed on, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, not always fluent, not fluent and one pace 3 out, stayed on flat
held up in rear, hampered 9th, headway going well when not fluent 3 out, led last, stayed on well
in rear, mistake 5th, blundered 7th, soon behind, tailed off
led, mistake 2nd, headed 4 out, ridden after 3 out, stayed on flat
A typically competitive affair in which few can be discounted. Woolcombe Folly gets little respite from the handicapper but is often thereabouts. Vino Griego got his act together last season but starts the new campaign on a high enough mark. Easter Meteor is fairly unexposed while AP McCoy has been claimed for Vulcanite, who represents a yard in brilliant form. He may have more to offer but Tanks For That and Kumbeshwar are probably better over 2m. Tartak is nicely treated and could go well while Johns Spirit is preferred to more exposed stablemate Finger Onthe Pulse but ASTRACAD ran well here on his reappearance last year and could be the one today. He's already won twice around here and was edging towards a fair mark in the spring. Tony Star may be best of the rest ahead of Sew On Target.
Woolcombe Folly (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) Settled behind leaders in 3rd, niggled along approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 5, 8l behind Rathlin (11-10) at Galway 2m 6f chs gd in Jul.
Vino Griego (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Held up in touch, chased leaders 3 out, outpaced when hit next, weakened before last, tailed off, 5th of 6, 49l behind Dynaste (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Tanks For That (IRE) 20-1 (11-2) In touch, headway to chase leaders 5th, slow jump 6th, went 2nd at 8th, led 4 out, headed next, soon lost 2nd and weakened, 8th of 10, 26l behind Sire De Grugy (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) gd in Apr.
Kumbeshwar 25-1 (11-7) In touch when fell 4th, in a race won by Alderwood (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs G3 (1) sft in Mar, 23 ran.
Easter Meteor 5-1 (10-4) Pressed leader, led 11th, headed 3 out, no extra when untidy last, 4th of 7, 18l behind Champion Court (10-7) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G2 (1) gs in Apr.
Astracad (FR) 4-1fav (11-5) Tracked leaders, not fluent 2nd, ridden in close 3rd 3 out, no extra flat, 4th of 9, 11l behind Anquetta (10-8) at Worcester 2m hcp chs 0-150 (2) gd in May.
Malt Master (IRE) 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 10, well behind Rye Martini (11-12) at Punchestown 2m 4f hdl hvy in Apr.
Tony Star (FR) 7-2 (11-4) Held up in last pair in touch, tracked leaders 5 out, went 3rd 3 out, stayed on to dispute 2nd from next, no extra flat, 3rd of 6, 8l behind Le Bec (11-4) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f beg chs (4) gs.
Vulcanite (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Held up, mistakes 8th and 9th, headway 12th, hit 4 out, ridden after next, hit 2 out, no extra flat, 8th of 20, 20l behind Rajdhani Express (11-7) at Cheltenham 2m 4f Listed Novice Handicap Chase (0-140) (5yo+) (1) sft in Mar.
Renard (FR) 13-2 (11-1) Led, hit 3rd, headed 7th, tracked leader, ridden and weakened before 4 out, 6th of 9, 37l behind Quincy Des Pictons (10-12) at Perth 2m 4f hcp chs 0-150 (2) gs in Apr.
Finger Onthe Pulse (IRE) 25-1 (10-1) In touch, driven and outpaced before 3 out, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 8th of 16, 27l behind Bouggler (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Rob Conti (FR) 25-1 (9-11) Tracked leader, led 10th, headed approaching 3 out, kept on same pace, no impression with winner in clear 2nd from next, 2nd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Bouggler (10-11) at Market Rasen 2m 6f listed hcp chs (1) gd in Sep.
Tartak (FR) 11-1 (10-5) Mid-division when fell 8th, in a race won by Triolo D'Alene (10-7) at Aintree 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Apr, 29 ran.
Johns Spirit (IRE) 10-3 (11-2) In rear, headway from 2 out, kept on to take 3rd run-in, 3rd of 7, 18l behind Netminder (10-0) at Ayr 3m 1f nov hcp chs 0-145 (2) gd in Apr.
Kingsmere 8-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, blundered badly 9th, pulled up before next, in a race won by Victor Leudorum (10-12) at Ascot 2m 5f nov chs (3) gd in Apr, 8 ran.
Sew On Target (IRE) 11-8fav (11-3) With winner until before 8th, chased winner before 4 out, mistake 2 out, one pace and no impression, 2nd of 4, 7l behind West With The Wind (11-11) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gf in May.
