held up in rear, hampered 3rd, jumped left 3 out, soon ridden, headway approaching 2 out, 3rd before last, no chance with winner
held up in rear, slightly hampered 3rd, headway 3 out, led before next, soon clear, easily
tracked leader, left in clear lead 3rd, not fluent 4th, reduced lead 6th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, not fluent and lost place 3 out, soon weakened
led into start, behind, soon tailed off, pulled up after 5th
mid-division, hampered 3rd, ridden and headway after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, no chance with winner
kept away from others at start, took keen hold, led until fell 3rd
held up towards rear, not clear run before 2 out, went 4th before last, never involved
tracked leaders, hampered 3rd, mistake next, ridden and weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, left 2nd 3rd, ridden and losing place when mistake 2 out, weakened
towards rear, ridden after 5th, not fluent and behind next, pulled up before 3 out
Point-to-point winner WHIPCORD (NAP) showed a big improvement on only his second start over hurdles when runner-up on good ground at Exeter a fortnight ago. He should make a bold bid for Paul Nicholls and is just preferred to recent Kempton third Cabernet D'alene, who steps up in trip today. Star Trouper made a promising start at Taunton only to flop when favourite at Exeter last month while Quarryman ran well for second over track and trip on his latest start and is another to consider.
Act Four (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Tracked leaders, one pace from 2 out, 6th of 16, 11 1/4l behind Celldomfed (11-0) at Chepstow 2m mdn (5) gd in Apr.
Butney Island (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Held up, ridden and weakened 3 out, 8th of 9, dist behind Young Dillon (11-0) at Market Rasen 2m 5f mdn (5) sft in Apr.
Cleni Wells (FR) 40-1 (11-1) Led until after 5th, chased leader until well before 6th, weakened soon after, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, at Newton Abbot 2m 2f (4) gs in Mar.
Common Practice (IRE) 40-1 (11-1) Held up mid-division, in 7th before 3 out, weakened before last, 7th of 12, 29 3/4l behind Black Corton (11-1) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Apr.
May Court 200-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 7f out, weakened over 4f out, tailed off, last of 12, dist behind Petie Mcsweetie (11-1) at Fontwell 1m 6f (6) gd in Aug.
Quarryman 33-1 (11-1) Led 2nd, wandered approaching 4th, pushed along and joined approaching 2 out, soon lost 2nd, went 2nd again before the last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 7l behind Verni (11-1) at Newton Abbot 2m 2f mdn (4) sft in Apr.
Star Trouper (IRE) 11-8fav (11-0) Led and soon clear, reduced lead 2nd, hit 3 out and headed, weakening when blundered next, 5th of 12, 35 3/4l behind Brotherly Company (10-8) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) gs in Apr.
What A Joke (IRE) 50-1 (10-12) Led, not fluent 1st, headed and mistake 4th, reminders and weakened from 4 out, tailed off, last of 6, dist behind The Skyfarmer (10-12) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f (4) gd in Oct.
Whipcord (IRE) 3-1 (11-1) Led, headed before 2 out, kept on and always well held, 2nd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Black Corton (11-1) at Exeter 2m 1f mdn (5) gd in Apr.
Cabernet D'Alene (FR) 12-1 (10-7) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, 3rd and held last, stayed on, 3rd of 9, 5 1/2l behind Swansea Mile (11-10) at Kempton 2m (4) gd in Apr.
Inspiring (IRE) 150-1 (10-12) Always towards rear, tailed off 5 out, pulled up, at Ludlow 2m 5f (4) gs in Apr.
