tracked leaders, not fluent 5th or 4 out, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
held up in mid-division, lost place 13th, behind when pulled up before 4 out
always prominent, ridden 4 out, every chance last, soon slightly hampered, stayed on, (finished 3rd, placed 2nd)
in touch, mistake 6th, 2nd when mistake 12th, hit next, lost place when hit 15th, pulled up before 3 out
mid-division, lost place 9th, no impression after, mistake and unseated rider 2 out
led, ridden and pressed from 2 out, edged slightly right after last, headed towards finish, (finished 2nd, placed 3rd)
held up in rear on outside, headway approaching 7th, lost place and ridden 14th, behind after, tailed off
tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place 9th, hit 13th, headway after 15th, close up 2 out, stayed on well to lead towards finish
prominent, lost place 10th, headway 12th, weakened approaching 4 out, tailed off
held up towards rear, not fluent 3rd, headway after 14th, no impression after 4 out, went 4th flat
held up in mid-division, headway approaching 14th, went 2nd after 15th until before 2 out, 4th and beaten before last
in rear, reminders after 5th, mistake 8th, pulled up before 11th
Herons Well has won over 3m between the flags but appears to have stamina issues over this trip under Rules. He has to give 4lb to THE COOL GUY, who may be an 11-year-old but has only had 14 career runs and won by 10 lengths at Cheltenham on his only previous start in a hunter chase. Lisadell King is a consistent performer at this level and has to go on the short-list while Oopsmylord finished second in this race last year and looks a better bet than stablemate No Virtue. Ice Bucket, formerly a decent handicapper with Henrietta Knight, has an accomplished amateur on board and could thrive on tight tracks in this new sphere - he is probably the pick of the remainder.
Herons Well (IRE) 11-2 (11-0) Chased leaders, led 8th (water)driven after 2 out, headed before last, eased when held towards finish, 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind King Troy (11-12) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gf in May.
Lisadell King (IRE) 4-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 4th, led 15th, joined when fell last, in a race won by Hemington (11-10) at Stratford 3m 4f nov hts chs (2) gf in May, 14 ran.
The Cool Guy (IRE) 20-1 (11-0) In touch, led 4th, made most after, headed briefly 5 out, blundered next, 6 length clear when not fluent last, kept on, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gd in May beating Marblehead (11-2) by 10l, 11 ran.
Dust In Time 8-1 (12-0) in a race won by Spiders Nephew (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd in Jan, 11 ran.
Gunnadoit (USA) 125-1 (11-1) In rear, jumped left 1st, tailed off from 10th, 6th of 8, well behind Golan Way (11-4) at Ludlow 2m 4f beg chs (4) gd in Oct.
Ice Bucket (IRE) 12-1 (12-0) (cp) led til hdd & wknd qckly 15, 8th of 12, 33l behind Up There (12-7) at Chaddesley Corbett 3m ptp gs in Jan.
New Team (FR) 33-1 (11-5) Prominent on outside, led 11th until next, weakened after 13th, tailed off, 7th of 10, well behind Gentle George (12-2) at Newbury 2m 6f hts chs (6) gs in Mar.
Oca De Thaix (FR) 5-4 (11-0) In tch to 11, 2nd of 4, 25l behind Naughty By Nature (11-7) at Trecoed 3m ptp gf in Jun.
Orphelin Collonges (FR) 16-1 (11-5) Last and sometimes detached until approaching 16th, closed to go 5th 17th, weakened 4 out, tailed off, 5th of 8, 45l behind Arceye (10-10) at Chepstow 3m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) gf in Apr.
The General Lee (IRE) 40-1 (10-3) In touch, mistake 11th, struggling 14th, rallied after 2 out, kept on flat, 4th of 9, 12l behind Cannon Bridge (10-3) at Stratford 2m 7f hunt chs (5) gf in May.
No Virtue 5-1 (11-7) Eff 14; nvr able to chall, 6th of 19, 10l behind Barneys Mate (12-0) at Chipley Park 3m ptp gd in Jan.
Overbury Pearl 4-1 (11-7) Prom til wknd 3 out, 5th of 10, 25l behind Drom (12-0) at Ashorne 3m ptp in May.
Oopsmylord (IRE) 4-1 (12-2) Took keen hold, tracked leader until jumped slowly 3rd, blundered next, reminders after 14th, weakened approaching 3 out, held on for well held 3rd, 3rd of 6, 33l behind Coolefind (11-13) at Towcester 3m hts chs (6) gf in May.
