led before 2nd, not fluent 6th (water), jumped right 8th and 9th, headed after 3 out, weakened from next
tracked leaders, jumped left and bumped rival 1st, went 2nd before 4th, led after 3 out, clear last, stayed on
led until before 2nd, stayed prominent, slipped on landing at 2nd, challenged 2 out, beaten last, lost 2nd towards finish
held up in rear, headway 6th, outpaced 2 out, rallied last, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner
held up, ridden and effort after 3 out, fading 5th at the last
held up in rear, mistake 1st, jumped right 5th, headway 3 out, stayed on same pace last
tracked leaders, bumped 1st, not fluent and lost place 7th, hit next, weakened before 3 out
Useful hurdler STARCHITECT was highly tried over fences last season after winning a novice event at Ayr. He was fifth in a Grade 3 at Cheltenham and then third in a Listed race at Aintree and a repeat of either of those runs would probably be good enough here. Oliver's Hill is in fine form but on a career-high mark thanks to his penalty and The Geegeez Geegee is up 8lb for a recent course win. Germany Calling has two ways of running while Mercian Prince was beaten twice off this mark in the spring, though could improve further this term.
Germany Calling (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Tracked leaders, lost place 5 out, soon behind, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out, at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp lst (1) gs in Sep.
Starchitect (IRE) 7-2fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, 2nd 6th until 4 out, 4th and no extra after 2 out, lost 4th close home, 5th of 10, 12 3/4l behind Henryville (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Mercian Prince (IRE) 5-1 (11-10) Tracked leader, keen, led approaching 3 out, headed before next, mistake last, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 7l behind Max Ward (11-9) at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in Mar.
Cut The Corner (IRE) 10-1 (11-8) Chased leaders, 2nd 13th until led before 4 out, blundered badly and headed 4 out, chased leaders, weakened 2 out, 5th of 13, 19l behind Braqueur D'or (11-4) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gf in Oct.
Oliver's Hill (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, ridden before last, kept on towards finish, won at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct beating Marracudja (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
The Geegeez Geegee (IRE) 3-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd after 2 out, led last, ran on well flat, won at Stratford 2m 5f hcp (4) sft in Oct beating Bramble Brook (11-8) by 5l, 7 ran.
Whispering Harry 12-1 (11-12) Led to 4 out, weakened from 3 out, pulled up before 2 out, at Uttoxeter 2m hcp (4) hvy in Feb.
