tracked leaders, reminder after 11th, outpaced 4 out, weakened 2 out
held up in rear in touch, outpaced after 13th, lost touch 5 out, soon pulled up
held up in touch on outside, chased leading pair when not fluent 4 out, ridden and one pace between last 2, stayed on towards finish
tracked leaders on inside, effort 5 out, outpaced next, weakened 2 out
tracked leaders, effort to lead before 4 out, ridden between last 2, kept on under presure flat
led, pecked and headed soon after 5 out, weakened next
tracked leader, led briefly after 5 out, ridden 3 out, kept on and every chance between last 2, held flat
Cannington Brook takes a drop in class but is still 10lb higher than when winning at Haydock back in February and The Rainbow Hunter is up another 5lb for a narrow-margin victory at Ascot last month. In contrast, Royal Charm can race off a 10lb lower mark since he last contested a chase and a decent comeback over timber at this track points to a big run from him. Richard Lee saddled Le Beau Bai to win the last two renewals so Cadoudalas could go well but a tentative vote goes the way of MY BOY PADDY, who scored off today's mark over C&D in March and has a recent pipe-opener under his belt.
Cannington Brook (IRE) 25-1 (11-7) Close up early, in touch, weakened before 3 out, last of 5, 26l behind Silviniaco Conti (11-7) at Haydock 3m chs G1 (1) sft in Nov.
The Rainbow Hunter 16-1 (11-12) Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, headway 4 out, led approaching last, all out, won at Ascot 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov beating Loch Ba (10-13) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Royal Charm (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, led 4 out, pushed along before 2 out, narrowly headed when mistake last, stayed on same pace flat, 2nd of 17, 1l behind Kitegen (10-8) at Chepstow 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Oct.
Cadoudalas (FR) 40-1 (11-7) Mid-division, headway and in touch 12th, outpaced 3 out, no impression with leaders from next, 4th of 10, 25l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-7) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Nov.
Sona Sasta (IRE) 16-1 (10-6) Reluctant to race, in rear, headway into mid-division halfway, outpaced 3 out, never threatened leaders, 13th of 23, 28l behind Sunnyhillboy (11-11) at Cheltenham 3m 1f Amateur Handicap Chase (0-145) (5yo+) (2) gd in Mar.
Mark The Book (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) Held up mid-division, weakened from 14th, tailed off and pulled up before 5 out, in a race won by Monsieur Cadou (10-0) at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Nov, 15 ran.
My Boy Paddy (IRE) 4-1 (11-5) Held up towards rear, outpaced 5 out, ridden before 2 out, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 23l behind Harouet (11-3) at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in Nov.
