led and disputed, led 6th until 13th, soon weakened and left behind, tailed off
raced wide, held up in 5th, left disputing 3rd at 10th, went 2nd 3 out, every chance last, weakened into 3rd run-in
close 3rd when bad mistake and unseated rider 10th
led and disputed, led 13th, headed and dropped to 3rd 3 out, rallied strongly to lead again run-in, stayed on well and won going away
tracked leaders, left disputing 3rd at 10th, led 3 out, headed and no extra run-in
The Changing Man won twice over hurdles around this time last year and is an interesting recruit to chasing, though the same can be said about the majority of these. Grey Dawning completed a hat-trick over timber in a Grade 2 at Warwick in January but fell in his only subsequent outing at Aintree when STAY AWAY FAY finished fourth. The latter had earlier won the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham and could go right to the top over fences. Hurricane Highway looks best of the rest ahead of penalised maiden hunter chase winner Ballydesmond.
Ballydesmond (IRE) 10-1 (12-0) Tracked leaders on outer, went 2nd 3 out, led 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure run-in, won at Down Royal 2m 7f mdn Yielding in May beating Focus Point (12-0) by 9l, 10 ran.
Grey Dawning (IRE) 5-1 (11-8) Held up in midfield, fell 9th, at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
Hurricane Highway (IRE) 5-2 (11-9) Led, headed 3 out, pressed leader from next, kept on from last, no match for winner, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Springwell Bay (12-0) at Wetherby 2m 4f (4) sft in Mar.
Stay Away Fay (IRE) 4-1 (11-8) Disputed lead, headed and chased leader before 8th, not fluent 10th, pushed along before 3 out where 2 lengths down, 1 length down 2 out, lost 2nd approaching last, no extra near finish, 4th of 15, 4 1/4l behind Apple Away (11-1) at Aintree 3m 1f (1) sft in Apr.
The Changing Man (IRE) 9-2 (11-9) Chased leader, led 8th, went left 4 out, headed 2 out, chased winner, stayed on same pace and well held, 2nd of 15, 3 1/4l behind Tiger Jet (10-6) at Haydock 3m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
