mid-division, unseated rider 2nd
mid-division, headway 3rd, ridden approaching 3 out, weakened 2 out
mid-division, chased leaders 4 out, every chance 2 out, weakened flat
held up mid-division, headway after 4 out, ridden approaching 2 out, one pace
mid-division, hampered 4 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, badly hampered 4 out, rallied approaching 2 out, no extra towards finish
always behind
held up, hampered 4 out, headway approaching 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on to take 2nd towards finish
mid-division, headway approaching 3 out, soon hung left, every chance 2 out, faded flat
chased leaders, upsides when fell 4 out
mid-division, ridden after 4 out, soon weakened
held up in touch, headway to chase leaders approaching 4 out, challenged 2 out, stayed on
chased leaders, every chance 3 out, soon ridden, weakened after 2 out
towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, weakened soon after
in rear, ridden and headway approaching 2 out, stayed on strongly flat, nearest finish
in touch, hampered 4 out, ridden approaching 3 out, led 2 out, headed flat, no extra
in touch, behind from 4th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
in touch, hampered 4 out, ridden to lead flat, ran on well
led, ridden approaching 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra towards finish
held up mid-division, ridden and headway 3 out, one pace
in touch, weakened from 4th
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, one pace
behind, headway approaching 2 out, one pace
There was plenty to like about the way that Emmpat won at Ayr last month and Charlie Swan's gelding is taken to defy a 7lb rise for that success and follow up here at the main expense of French Saulaie and Nobelix. The last mentioned is the least exposed of these after just four runs over hurdles and may be potentially well treated or his debut in this grade. Adopted Hero has more to do than when scoring here last month and of more interest may be Penzance, who appreciated the return to hurdles when resuming winning ways when dead-heating at Sandown recently. Premier Dane is strictly held by the selection on running at Ayr, while Wise Owl faces no easy task against more experienced rivals. French Saulaie looks to be going the right way and has to be respected but Emmpat did everything asked of him in good fashion at Ayr and he is taken to defy the handicapper.
Kawagino (IRE) 33-1 (11-7) Chased leaders and keen, ridden in 3rd when blundered 2 out, weakened after last, 5th of 11, 9l behind Al Eile (11-7) at Aintree 2m 4f hdl Grd 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Penzance 3-1 (11-4) Led, clear after 2nd until 5th, drew clear again approaching 2 out, 4 lengths clear last, driven and edged left flat, joined post, won at Sandown 2m hdl (2) gf in Apr deadheating with Arcalis (11-10), 6 ran.
Emmpat (IRE) 10-3 (10-7) Held up, smooth headway after 4 out, hit 3 out, ridden to lead approaching last, stayed on, won at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr beating Ouninpohja (10-13) by 4l, 8 ran.
Premier Dane (IRE) 7-2 (10-12) Held up, headway 4 out, ridden next, one pace, 3rd of 8, 5l behind Emmpat (10-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr.
Caracciola (GER) 6-1 (10-12) Held up, effort 3 out, no impression, 5th of 8, 13l behind Emmpat (10-7) at Ayr 2m hcp hdl Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr.
Ellerslie Tom 7-1 (11-12) Led, headed 3 out, weakened approaching last, 7th of 19, 18l behind Adopted Hero (10-8) at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr.
O'Toole (IRE) 80-1 (9-8) Always towards rear, 18th of 28, 20l behind Pedrobob (10-0) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp hdl Grd 3 (1) gs in Mar.
French Saulaie (FR) 3-1 (10-6) Took keen hold, held up in rear, steady headway from 3 out, chased leaders going well from next, led last, driven clear run-in, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp hdl (2) gd in Apr beating Chilling Place (11-6) by 5l, 9 ran.
Adopted Hero (IRE) 8-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 5th, led 2 out, hung left and drew clear from last, won at Haydock 2m hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in Apr beating Sunday City (10-7) by 11l, 19 ran.
Sunday City (JPN) 2-1fav (11-4) Made all, ridden approaching 2 out, stayed on well to go clear approaching last, won at Bangor 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd beating Kickahead (10-8) by 8l, 5 ran.
Border Castle 16-1 (10-12) Mid-division, driven approaching 2 out, kept on under pressure flat, 5th of 17, 11l behind Gaspara (10-5) at Sandown 2m lst hcp hdl (1) hvy in Mar.
The Duke's Speech (IRE) 66-1 (10-11) Held up, headway approaching 5th, ridden approaching 3 out, one pace, 7th of 22, 6l behind Kings Quay (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Demi Beau 20-1 (11-6) Chased winner, no impression when lost 2nd 2 out, weakened and lost 3rd last, 4th of 8, 11l behind Dempsey (11-6) at Sandown 2m chs Grd 2 (1) gf in Apr.
Nobelix (IRE) 9-4 (11-4) Tracked leading pair, headway on inside, upsides winner last, stumbled soon after, hung left, no impression run-in, 2nd of 4, 3l behind Lead On (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 1f nov hdl (2) gd in Apr.
Ameeq (USA) 9-1 (10-12) In touch, weakened approaching 3 out, 12th of 22, 26l behind Kings Quay (10-2) at Aintree 2m lst hcp hdl (1) gd in Apr.
Orpen Wide (IRE) 16-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, weakening when hampered bend over 2 out and brought down brought down 2 out in race won by Festive Chimes (11-2) at Fakenham 2m hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gd in Mar, 12 ran.
River Alder 16-1 (11-7) Chased leaders, lost place 4 out, rallied to lead 3 out, stayed on well from last, won at Ayr 2m mrs hcp hdl (2) gf in Apr beating Helen Wood (10-7) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Leslingtaylor (IRE) 14-1 (10-8) Behind, kept on same pace from 3 out, 12th of 23, 15l behind Emmpat (10-4) at Fairyhouse 2m hcp hdl gf in Apr.
Wizard of Us 9-1 (11-5) Led, headed approaching 3rd, chased leader, led 7th, headed 2 out, looked held when left in lead last, all out, gamely, won at Uttoxeter 2m nov hcp hdl (2) gs in Mar beating Storm Prospect (10-5) by a nk, 14 ran.
Magic Sky (FR) 16-1 (10-6) Towards rear, headway 4 out, one pace, 5th of 15, 9l behind Bambi De L'orme (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Stan (NZ) 33-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, led after 3 out, blundered 2 out, soon headed, weakened, 6th of 15, 9l behind Bambi De L'orme (10-2) at Aintree 2m hcp chs Grd 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Wise Owl 3-1fav (10-10) Held up, headway after 4th, disputed lead last, ridden out, won at Chepstow 2m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gd in Apr beating Adjami (10-8) by a hd, 10 ran.
Gringo 11-8fav (11-7) Held up in rear, headway 3 out, went 2nd next, led on bit after last, easily, won at Kelso 2m nov hdl (4) gf in Apr beating Abstract Folly (11-0) by 2l, 10 ran.
