jumped slowly 1st, in touch in main group, not fluent 5th, ridden and lost place next, weakened after 3 out, went right last
not fluent, always in rear, pushed along 3rd, tailed off 6th
tracked clear leader after 1st, closed 4th, not fluent next, led 3 out, soon drew clear, very easily
in rear, last after mistake 3rd, mistake next, not fluent 5th, tailed off 6th, pulled up before 2 out
raced freely, led and soon clear, reduced advantage 4th, not fluent and headed 3 out, soon no chance with winner, lost 2nd before last
chased leaders, lost place before 2nd, ridden after 4th, not fluent next, rallied approaching 6th, went 2nd briefly before last, no chance with winner
chased leaders, not fluent 5th, not fluent and lost place next, weakening when mistake 3 out
mainly always towards rear
mid-division, took keen hold, jumped left 3rd, headway approaching 5th, weakened after 3 out
soon steadied towards rear, not fluent 4th, headway approaching 6th, oupaced after 3 out, switched right and stayed on after 2 out, went 2nd last, no chance with winner
tracked leader until after 1st, lost place 3rd, well behind 6th, tailed off
mid-division on outside, headway 4th, jumped left and not fluent 3 out, one pace after 3 out, no impression
EXPRESS LEADER looks likely to be very hard to beat in the opener and gets the vote to beat Lord Landen and Swing State in a race lacking strength. Paul Nicholls won this race last year and looks to have excellent claims of repeating the feat with his 119-rated gelding, who finished second to an improver when sent off as a well-backed favourite last time. He steps down in trip today and that can see a return to the winners' enclosure for the first time since he took a bumper at Wincanton in 2008. Lord Landen is rated the main threat on the back of two promising runs since switched to timber. He's got to learn to settle but if and when he does will surely take a similar contest, although in Express Leader he meets one we expect to be too good. Swing State represents a yard doing well across all codes and must be respected, making his hurdles debut on ground that should suit perfectly. Hows The Boy represents a good yard and must be given a glance in the market but he's nothing special on pedigree whilst Gambo needs to improve but is in good hands to do just that. Bobbits Way needs a market check having landed a point-to-point last time but in all probability Express Leader will outlcass these.
Bobbits Way 6-4 (11-7) Rcd 3rd/4th, cl 3rd & b mstk 4out, gngn well in 3rd 3out, eff to disp last, mstk, kow late to ld, won at Taylorstown 3m ire ptp gd in Oct beating Kings Army (11-7) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bold Exit (IRE) 16-1 (11-0) Keen hold, in touch, pushed along 6f out, soon struggling, tailed off, 12th of 13, 40l behind Adams Island (11-0) at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (6) gs in Dec.
Express Leader 6-4fav (11-1) Keen early, held up, headway approaching 8th, led briefly approaching 3 out, soon ridden, not fluent 2 out, no extra flat, 2nd of 10, 6l behind Penylan Star (11-1) at Exeter 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Apr.
Hows The Boy Bandmaster gelding out of Fashion Princess.
Lord Landen (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Pulled hard in rear, chased leading trio after 3 out, went 3rd before last, kept on flat, 3rd of 5, 4l behind Meath All Star (11-2) at Wincanton 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Magical Treasure 2-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, headway to track leaders over 6f out, weakened over 2f out, 6th of 8, 25l behind Lundy Sky (11-3) at Chepstow 2m NH flat (6) hvy in Mar.
Powerfullbeat 33-1 (10-7) Close up, hit 3 out, soon weakened, 8th of 11, 43l behind High Gales (11-5) at Hereford 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gf in Sep.
Royal Arms 14-1 (11-1) Held up, raced keenly, headway approaching 9th, weakened approaching 10th, 5th of 11, well behind The Sliotar (11-8) at Southwell 3m nov hdl (4) gf in Apr '08.
Swing State 4-1 (11-9) Raced keenly, tracked winner, led halfway, soon hung right, ridden and headed over 3f out, kept on, no chance with winner final furlong, 2nd of 8, 13l behind Oscar Papa (11-2) at Plumpton 2m 2f NH flat (6) sft in Apr.
Gambo (IRE) 50-1 (9-12) In rear when blundered badly 4 out, recovered and headway approaching 3 out, went distant 4th 2 out, until blundered last, tailed off, 5th of 11, 32l behind City Theatre (11-8) at Ffos Las 2m 4f NH nov hdl (4-7yo) (4) gs in Feb.
Dolly Grey 25-1 (10-4) Unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Josear (11-7) at Taunton 2m 3f hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs in Apr, 9 ran.
Evening Haze 66-1 (10-5) Prominent, jinked right over 13f out, ridden over 6f out, soon weakened, tailed off, 9th of 14, well behind Cresswell Crusader (10-12) at Chepstow 2m cond & am NH flat (6) hvy in Feb.
