chased leaders, pecked 8th, 2nd 2 out, stayed on to lead near finish
chased leader until blundered and lost place 5th, tailed off when veered left after 4 out, pulled up before 2 out
pulled hard, headway to lead 3rd until 6th, chased leaders, weakened 3 out
soon in rear, never a factor, tailed off
held up, blundered and unseated rider 3rd
held up and behind, headway chasing leaders 9th, weakened 3 out, went right and unseated rider next
held up in touch, 2nd before 3 out until next, kept on same pace in 3rd
led until 3rd, led again 5th, over 1 length ahead last, driven and headed near finish
NonRunner
WELLS DE LUNE has been running in championship races since a comfortable victory at Ffos Las in February. The drop in distance shouldn’t be a problem as he likes to get on with things and, if he jumps well, Micky Bowen’s charge will take some catching. Starkie has won five times under Rules and was successful in an open at Hackwood Park 12 days ago. Numbercruncher may be the pick of the remainder with Le Bacardy looking a light of former days and Velvet Maker increasingly difficult to predict.
Numbercruncher (IRE) 40-1 (11-13) Mid-division, chased leaders 11th, ridden and kept on same pace from 2 out, never on terms, 7th of 19, 12 1/2l behind Mr Mercurial (12-2) at Cheltenham 2m 5f (5) gd in May.
Wells De Lune (FR) 16-1 (12-0) Tracked leader, led from 3rd (chair), blundered 8th, headed and unseated rider 9th, at Aintree 2m 5f (2) sft in Apr.
Brave Jaq (FR) 80-1 (11-10) Raced keenly, with leader, led narrowly after 2nd, headed 3 out, driven and lost place before next, no impression after, weakened and lost place closing stages, 6th of 15, 23 1/4l behind Monsieur Gibraltar (12-2) at Cheltenham 2m (5) gd in May.
Jamrham (IRE) 25-1 (12-7) (cp) (tt) in tch til wknd 15; wl bhnd when pu last, at Cold Harbour 3m in May.
Le Bacardy (FR) 6-1 (11-6) Bhnd til hdwy 12; 5th when ur nxt, at Maisemore Park 3m gd in May.
Noble Friend (IRE) 14-1 (12-0) In tch til wknd qckly aft 3 out, 5th of 8, 21l behind Angles Hill (12-0) at Holnicote 3m gs in May.
Velvet Maker (FR) 11-8fav (11-12) Prominent, led 2nd, headed 5th, 7th and weakening when mistake and unseated rider 4 out, at Leicester 2m (5) hvy in Mar.
Exclusive Rights 16-1 (11-3) Raced in 3rd, soon well off the pace, lost 3rd 13rd, weakened next, pulled up after 2 out, at Stratford 2m 7f (5) gs in Apr.
Starkie 7-1 (11-7) (tt) trckd ldrs; led aft 3 out; drvn out, won at Hackwood Park 2m 4f gd in May beating Broken Eagle (11-7) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Next Surprise (IRE) 7-1 (12-0) (h) (tt) led to 4; wknd qckly 13; t.o & pu 4 out, at Aldington 3m gs in May.
