led, headed 3 out, 3rd and beaten when jumped left last
held up in touch, closed 6th, not fluent next, weakened 2 out, not fluent last
tracked leader, led 3 out, driven flat, headed towards finish
held up in touch, closed after 3 out, went 2nd 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on under pressure flat, led towards finish
tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place before 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off
held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, mistake 7th, not fluent next, ridden before 3 out, weakened approaching next
Al Qeddaaf has shown little since returning from a break while Sophonie has been a big disappointment so far over fences and Saddlers Deal will probably need this. KAI BROON is slowly coming down the weights and could be another for the Lucinda Russell team as he usually runs well here, though is still awaiting a first victory on the track. Calculaite was second at Uttoxeter around this time last year but has only run once since and Scotch Warrior has also had his problems.
Al Qeddaaf (IRE) 9-1 (11-7) Led, not always fluent, ridden when headed after 3 out, no extra next, 5th of 7, 32l behind Anay Turge (11-0) at Perth 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
Calculaite 25-1 (11-12) Mid-division, took keen hold, not fluent 9th, went 5th 2 out, no impression, 6th of 9, 25l behind Sleep In First (11-4) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Kai Broon (IRE) 17-2 (11-2) Held up, not fluent 1st or 7th, headway approaching 9th, ridden before 3 out, no impression, stayed on same pace flat, 4th of 9, 15l behind Sleep In First (11-4) at Hexham 2m hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd in Apr.
Scotch Warrior 25-1 (10-13) Tracked leaders, outpaced in 3rd before 4 out, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before last, in a race won by Blazing Bull (10-1) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-115 (4) sft in Mar, 8 ran.
Saddlers Deal (IRE) 22-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway 11th, went 3rd before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 6, 7l behind Tregaro (10-12) at Sedgefield 2m 4f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Oct.
Sophonie (FR) 13-8fav (11-12) Chased leader, led after 3 out, headed before 2 out where jumped left, no extra last, 4th of 7, 23l behind Bobby Dove (9-12) at Huntingdon 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Jan.
