raced wide, held up, headway 4th, chased leaders before 2 out, every chance last, ridden and no extra towards finish
chased leader, led 3rd, joined last, headed run-in, kept on gamely to hold 2nd
raced wide, chased leaders, weakened before 2 out
held up and behind, never on terms
mid-division on inside, headway approaching 2 out, chased leaders after 2 out, ridden to lead run-in, stayed on well
held up towards rear, never involved
held up in rear, pushed along before 3 out, headway on wide outside 2 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure run-in, went never nearer 6th post
held up towards rear, good headway on wide outside into 2nd 2 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish
mid-division, pushed along after 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out
last pair, headway on inside approaching 2 out, ridden and no impression between last 2
mid-division, headway chasing leaders before 2 out, ridden and not quicken between last 2, no extra run-in, lost modest 6th post
led until 3rd, chased leader until ridden before 2 out, weakened between last 2
chased leaders, ridden and weakened between last 2
mid-division, reminders and weakened after 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway on inside chasing leaders before 2 out, every chance last, stayed on in 3rd run-in
chased leaders, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders on inside, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, pushed along and weakened before 2 out,
chased leaders, weakened and behind when mistake 2 out
held up towards rear, headway before 2 out, weakening when blundered last
A terrific start to what is a fantastic finale to the jumps season. The weights in this opener are head by the smart Mont Des Avaloirs but Sam Twiston-Davies prefers the four-year-old Act Of Valour, who has also been keeping good company. Another juvenile, Taxmeifyoucan, is unexposed and a rare runner here for Keith Dalgleish. Highway One O One has won four times this season but his one failure came over this course and distance last month. Ballymoy looks to be improving at a rate of knots and goes on the short-list but so do a host of others including Burrows Edge, Notre Ami, Kelpies Myth, Equus Amadeus and Ar Mest. SHOW ON THE ROAD trounced Friday Night Light by 13 lengths at Exeter in January and has improved since. Recent rain may have eased the going sufficiently for him to go close in this. The likely fast pace should benefit Oistrakh Le Noir and he may be best of the rest.
Mont Des Avaloirs (FR) 1-6fav (11-6) Made all, quickened off last bend, pressed but still going best when left 4 lengths clear 2 out, easily, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f (4) sft in Apr beating The King Of May (11-6) by 9l, 4 ran.
Highway One O One (IRE) 7-4fav (12-0) Made all, hit 2nd, clear from 2 out where awkward, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Apr beating Equus Amadeus (11-7) by 5l, 13 ran.
Jaisalmer (IRE) 9-2 (10-10) Mid-division, outpaced after 4 out, well beaten next, pulled up before 2 out, at Plumpton 2m hcp (2) hvy in Apr.
Piton Pete (IRE) Evens (11-13) Raced quite wide, tracked winner, led before 3rd, headed and ridden after 3 out, tired looking jump 2 out, no impression last, 2nd of 3, 18l behind Dr Des (11-13) at Towcester 2m 3f (4) hvy in Mar.
Ballymoy (IRE) 11-8 (11-7) Chased leader until before 4th, challenged 3 out, led next, 5 lengths clear and well in command when left further clear last, easily, won at Bangor 2m 1f (4) sft in Mar beating Ofcourseiwill (11-0) by 21l, 7 ran.
Taxmeifyoucan (IRE) 11-4fav (10-11) Tracked leaders and keen, ridden and every chance last, kept on and lost 2nd place close home, 3rd of 11, 3/4l behind Keyboard Gangster (11-3) at Kelso 2m hcp (2) hvy in Apr.
Burrows Edge (FR) 2-5fav (12-1) Tracked winner, mistake 2nd, every chance 2 out, not fluent last, kept on and always held, 2nd of 5, 8l behind Luckofthedraw (11-3) at Ffos Las 2m (4) hvy in Apr.
Act Of Valour 2-1 (10-13) Tracked leading pair, went 2nd after 4th, led approaching and not fluent last, kept on run-in, won at Fakenham 2m (4) gs in Apr beating Pacific De Baune (11-11) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Friday Night Light (FR) 8-1 (10-2) Held up towards rear, not fluent 1st, some headway after 3 out, ridden and weakened before mistake 2 out, pulled up before last, at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Show On The Road 11-4jfav (11-9) Held up, headway chasing leaders after 3 out (normal 4 out), 2nd going well before 2 out, led last, kept on well run-in, won at Exeter 2m 1f hcp (3) hvy in Apr beating Trans Express (11-6) by 11l, 9 ran.
Oistrakh Le Noir (FR) 3-1 (11-5) Tracked leading trio, went 3rd before 3 out, ridden and outpaced between last 2, hit last, no chance with 1st 2, 3rd of 6, 6 3/4l behind Act Of Valour (10-13) at Fakenham 2m (4) gs in Apr.
Kelpies Myth 4-1 (11-6) Led, pushed along and pressed 2 out, held on well towards finish, won at Carlisle 2m 1f (4) sft in Apr beating Cornerstone Lad (11-6) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Going Gold (IRE) 9-1 (11-0) Prominent, ridden after 2 out, stayed on same pace last, 6th of 15, 9 3/4l behind Magic Dancer (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Django Django (FR) 7-1 (11-2) Chased leaders, not fluent 6th, weakened after 3 out, 10th of 11, 15 1/4l behind Kildisart (11-12) at Kempton 2m 5f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Equus Amadeus (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Took keen hold in mid-division, headway chasing leaders 4th, went 2nd 2 out, stayed on same pace run-in, no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 5l behind Highway One O One (12-0) at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Apr.
Notre Ami (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Led until hit 4th and headed, chased leader, led again after 3 out, 2 lengths ahead last, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 2m (4) sft in Apr beating Destrier (12-0) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Ar Mest (FR) 3-1 (11-7) Tracked clear winner, closer at 3rd, just over 1 length down and going ok when fell 3 out, at Sandown 2m (4) sft in Mar.
The New Pharaoh (IRE) 5-1 (12-2) Always towards rear, tailed off from 3 out, 5th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Black Art (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Enola Gay (FR) 9-2 (10-8) Close up, not much room 1st, mistake 7th, challenged before 9th, not fluent 13th, pushed along after next, no extra 4 out, hit last, went 2nd flat, 2nd of 3, 21l behind Some Are Lucky (11-6) at Leicester 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Grapevine (IRE) 7-4fav (11-0) Chased leader until 3 out, hung right and weakened before next, 5th of 8, 15 1/4l behind Distingo (11-6) at Kempton 2m (4) gs in Mar.
