held up, headway 11th, went 2nd 4 out, jumped left next, soon ridden, no impression on winner final 150 yards
prominent, went 2nd from 3rd until 4 out, no extra from 2 out
held up, struggling after 14th, weakened before 4 out
held up, not fluent 12th, ridden and behind 14th, stayed on flat, no chance with leaders
dropped out start, soon racing keenly, closed 4th, pushed along and 5 lengths 4th when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
tracked winner until 3rd, niggled along 7th, not fluent 10th, soon lost place, well beaten 14th, stayed on flat
made all, ridden from 2 out, stayed on gamely, clear final 150 yards
David Pipe won the inaugural running last year and his prolific novice Ainsi Fideles will find this easier than the Grade 1 he contested last time at Aintree. But we're loathe to desert the fast-improving CLOUD CREEPER, who found plenty to complete the hat-trick at Cheltenham last month. It's A Gimme has a lengthy absence to overcome and will probably have the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July as his target again while neither Lysino nor Big Casino look good enough. Hada Men has won around here over hurdles but hasn't taken to the larger obstacles.
Cloud Creeper (IRE) 9-4 (11-8) Held up 4th and last, close up 8th, mistake when left 2nd 4 out, switched inside approaching 2 out, led soon after, ridden and held on under presssure flat, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f nov chs (2) gd in Apr beating Un Ace (11-8) by 3/4l, 4 ran.
Ainsi Fideles (FR) 9-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, outpaced before 4 out, soon behind, weakened before next, tailed off, 6th of 9, well behind Saphir Du Rheu (11-4) at Aintree 3m 1f nov chs G1 (1) gd in Apr.
It's A Gimme (IRE) 20-1 (10-6) Always towards rear, ridden and no impression 3 out, 16th of 22, 46l behind Road To Riches (10-11) at Galway 2m 6f hcap ch gd in Jul.
Back To Bracka (IRE) 22-1 (11-5) In rear, weakened before 3 out, 6th of 9, 27l behind Avidity (11-4) at Ayr 2m 4f con hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Lysino (GER) 6-1 (11-11) Held up in last pair, mistake 4th, pushed along before 4 out, left in 3rd and not fluent 2 out, ridden and no impression when weakened into 4th approaching the last, 4th of 7, 10l behind One Term (11-12) at Stratford 2m 4f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr.
Hada Men (USA) 16-1 (10-3) Fell 1st, in a race won by Virak (11-7) at Haydock 3m hcp chs (2) sft in Apr, 12 ran.
Big Casino 11-2 (11-12) Prominent, not fluent 8th, ridden before 4 out, led next, driven flat, headed close home, 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Greenlaw (11-2) at Wetherby 2m 6f hcp chs 0-120 (4) gd in Mar.
