held up and behind, headway 11th, weakened before 5 out
chased leader 2nd to 8th, led 11th to 5 out, ridden and every chance 2 out, weakened towards finish
held up in touch, chased leader 8th to 11th, led 5 out, blundered and headed 3 out, led 2 out, edged left flat, driven out
always well placed, niggled along approaching 5 out, ridden and led 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on flat
led until mistake 11th, lost place 12th, rallied briefly 5 out, no danger after
held up and behind, headway approaching 5 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up before 9th
Last year’s winner went on to finish runner-up in the Welsh Grand National and CAPTAIN CATTISTOCK is currently 25/1 for the latter race. Victory in today’s trial will see his price shorten and Paul Nicholl’s charge can go one better having missed out by only a neck at Fontwell last month. Calipto returns to action having won the Listed Swinley Chase over 3m at Ascot early in the year and also won under a conditional rider before that but Another Venture was well beaten in this on last year’s return to action. Golden Sunrise scored on good ground at Exeter in October but struggled in soft at the same track last time while Acting Lass and Noruki continue to struggle and Looks Like Power is preferred.
Calipto (FR) 14-1 (11-5) Always behind, weakened 3 out, pulled up before next, at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Captain Cattistock 5-2fav (11-12) Chased leader to 13th, ridden and every chance last, stayed on under strong pressure flat, 2nd of 7, nk behind One Of Us (10-3) at Fontwell 3m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Acting Lass (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Jumped left, in rear, good headway on inside after 14th, weakened 3 out, 9th of 16, 26 1/2l behind Vinndication (11-0) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gs in Nov.
Another Venture (IRE) 15-8fav (11-11) Chased leaders, reminders after 2nd, ridden before 12th, outpaced before 4 out, well held after, pressing for modest 3rd last, 4th of 7, 23l behind Cultram Abbey (11-8) at Kelso 2m 7f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Golden Sunrise (IRE) 7-1 (11-8) Chased leader, led 3rd, soon headed, dived pecked 5th and lost 2nd, chased leaders, weakened 12th, soon behind, tailed off and pulled up after 14th, at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Looks Like Power (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up behind, headway 5 out, soon tracked leaders, close 3rd 2 out, ridden and kept on same pace flat, 3rd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Achille (11-6) at Ffos Las 3m hcp (3) sft in Apr.
Noruki (IRE) 100-1 (11-2) Held up off the pace in 5th, dropped to last at 5th, detached 8th, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind Esprit Du Large (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Nov.
