held up, headway to go 4th at 7th, ridden 4 out, weakened 2 out
made all, unchallenged, ridden and ran on
chased winner throughout, blundered badly 4 out, weakened approaching last, dismounted after line
close up, jumped slow 5th, lost place, ridden and weakened 14th, pulled up 4 out
in touch, ridden 4 out, one pace from 2 out
jumped erratically throughout, held up, blundered badly and rider lost irons at 6th, behind and pulled up after 12th
held up, behind from 4th
Prolific point winner Cape Stormer gets the vote over Full Minty, Trooper and Buckingham Bill. Most of these have been plying their trade between the flags of late, with Cape Stormer landing four of his last six starts, most recently when successful from Thoutmosis at Penshurst. Third over today's course-and-distance in April, he will find this less daunting than when ninth in the Aintree Foxhunter, and is the pick. Full Minty was put in his place by the useful Irilut at Siddington in March, while the veteran Trooper ran out of steam when eventually second over four miles at Dingley on his last start. Buckingham Bill looked the part when winning easily at Ashorne last time, but does not have the level of experience that Cape Stormer has over regulation fences, and it is the latter that holds all the aces.
Buckingham Bill (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Led 7; drew wl clr frm 15, won at Ashorne 3m ptp gd beating He's A Dinger (12-0) by 40l, 9 ran.
Cape Stormer (IRE) 2-5fav (12-5) Led 3; stayed on wl, won at Penshurst 3m ptp frm in Apr beating Thoutmosis (12-5) by 2l, 5 ran.
Full Minty 4-5fav (12-4) Led 10-2 out; wknd, 3rd of 9, 18l behind Irilut (12-7) at Siddington 3m ptp gd in Mar.
Montebank (IRE) 16-1 (12-0) Rn in snatches; lost tch 12; t.o & pulled up in race won by It Plays Itself (12-0) at Garthorpe 3m ptp gd in Apr, 11 ran.
Rooster 9-1 (11-7) In touch, ridden after 11th, outpaced 13th, kept on to go 3rd at last, 3rd of 7, 13l behind Full Irish (11-9) at Fakenham 3m hts chs (5) gf.
The Spacer (IRE) 6-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, led 3rd, headed 5th, reminders 9th, weakened 10th, behind when fell at the 11th in race won by Sam Adamson (9-11) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-90 (5) gd in Sept, 17 ran.
Trooper 7-2 (12-0) Rcd wide; outpcd 18; went 2nd aft 3 out; led app last; gave up flat; hdd nr fin, 2nd of 5, 1/2l behind Parsonhumfrywebber (12-0) at Dingley 4m ptp gf.
