led, headed and pushed along 3 out, weakened quickly home turn, pulled up before 2 out
tracked leaders, pushed along 4 out, dropped to last before 3 out and struggling, soon pulled up
in rear in touch, headway into 4th after 3 out, ridden and pressed leaders before 2 out, took 2nd run-in, closing on winner at finish but always held
towards rear, pushed along after 3 out, went 4th home turn, ridden to chase leaders before 2 out, not fluent 2 out and last, gradually faded
chased leaders, led 3 out, soon pressed and pushed along before 2 out, headed 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace, faded towards finish
towards rear, headway to press leader and not fluent 3 out, driven along before 2 out, led 2 out, went clear after last, reduced lead closing stages, always doing enough
close up, pushed along 3 out, pressed leaders before 2 out, kept on one pace
Ratfacemcdougall has been given a break since landing a hat-trick over hurdles and returns to action 3lb higher and debuting for a new yard. Welsh Saint has also switched trainers and is back on a winning mark but BLACKJACK KENTUCKY will be sharper for last month’s third at Newton Abbot and Paul Nicholls’ sent out last year’s winner. Dolphin Square returns to hurdles having won a hunters chase back in May but Khan is preferred having scored at Huntingdon before placing at Exeter.
Ratfacemcdougall (IRE) 11-4 (11-8) Chased leaders on inside, ridden after 3 out, challenged 2 out, led before last, hard pressed, held on well, won at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr beating Supremely Lucky (11-11) by nk, 5 ran.
Blackjack Kentucky (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway into third before 4 out, pressed leader after 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, kept on, not pace of winner, 2nd of 8, 7 1/2l behind Ballymillsy (10-6) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Dolphin Square (IRE) 1-2fav (12-2) Towards rear, headway 10th, ridden to chase winner when not fluent 2 out, ran on, 2nd of 8, 1l behind Green Winter (11-12) at Huntingdon 3m (6) gd in May.
Welsh Saint (FR) 12-1 (11-3) Not fluent 2nd, tracked leaders, not fluent 3rd, kept wide and in touch when jumped left 2 out, soon ridden and weakened, 11th of 12, 34 3/4l behind Ask Dillon (11-12) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Nordano (GER) 16-1 (11-2) Not always fluent, led, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out, last of 5, 25 3/4l behind Ratfacemcdougall (11-8) at Warwick 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Khan (GER) 3-1 (11-0) Pressing leader when in view, in front 2 out, 2nd and held towards finish, 2nd of 6, 1l behind An Tailliur (11-12) at Exeter 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Shah An Shah 17-2 (10-10) Chased winner until before 3 out weakened rapidly, soon behind, tailed off, 8th of 10, 35 3/4l behind Sultans Pride (10-12) at Doncaster 3m hcp (3) gs in Feb.
