prominent, led 10th, clear when jumped left 15th, headed when mistake last, no impression on winner flat
mid-division, not fluent 5th (water), headway before 4 out, modest 3rd 3 out, well held when pecked last, soon lost 3rd
held up towards rear, mistake 7th, headway 15th, 2nd 4 out, led last, drew clear flat
held up towards rear, headway 15th, weakened after next
towards rear, behind 11th, pulled up before 16th
led until 10th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up after
mid-division, headway 15th, 4th when mistake 3 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, not fluent 7th, ridden 11th, weakened after 16th, soon pulled up
prominent, mistake 3rd, losing place when not fluent 12th, behind when pulled up after 16th
held up in rear, mistake 5th (water), not fluent 11th, remote 6th 3 out, stayed on after 2 out, went 3rd flat, never on terms
slowly away, in rear, behind 16th, pulled up after
NonRunner
The first three from last year - Young Hurricane, Balnaslow and Wonderful Charm - are back for more. Derek O’Connor and Balnaslow won the Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree in April, with Wonderful Charm well beaten, but was then pulled up in the championship race at Punchestown along with Ourmanmassini. Young Hurricane looks to have been trained with a repeat in mind so is worth considering but Vivaldi Collonges ran a shocker behind Strumble Head at Newton Abbot and former stablemate Mon Parrain looks vulnerable again. KILBREE KID was more like his old self north of the border last month. He has his ground again and Tom George’s 11-year-old is probably still up to winning a race like this.
Asockastar (IRE) 50-1 (11-12) Raced keenly, with leader, left in lead when slightly hampered 4 out, 4 lengths clear 2 out, ridden and hard pressed between last 2, headed last, no extra in clear 2nd flat, 2nd of 11, 7l behind Barel Of Laughs (12-4) at Cheltenham 3m 2f (2) gd in May.
Balnaslow (IRE) 7-2 (12-0) Held up, 12th from 6th, soon headway, no extra from before 4 out and pulled up before 3 out, at Punchestown 3m 1f sft in Apr.
Chosen Dream (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden in 3rd after 3 out, kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 7, 11l behind Sizing Rome (11-4) at Down Royal 2m 7f gd in May.
Kilbree Kid (IRE) 10-3 (12-4) Towards rear, headway before 5 out, led before 2 out, kept on well, won at Kelso 3m 2f (4) gd in May beating Double Whammy (12-4) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mon Parrain (FR) 20-1 (11-13) Tracked leaders, close up 15th, led 22nd, ridden and headed narrowly between last 2, well held in 3rd flat (awarded 2nd), 3rd of 14, at Cheltenham 4m 1f (4) gd in May.
Now Ben (IRE) 1-4fav (12-7) Made all; drew clr 15; v easy, won at Eyton-on-severn 3m gf in May beating Fight Away Boys (12-0) by 5l, 3 ran.
Ourmanmassini (IRE) 33-1 (12-0) Mid-division early, slight mistake 2nd, 10th from 6th, no extra from 4 out and pulled up straight, at Punchestown 3m 1f sft in Apr.
Strumble Head (IRE) 7-2 (12-6) Tracked leader, led 4 out, soon clear, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f (6) gd in May beating Hard Station (11-12) by 6l, 6 ran.
Vivaldi Collonges (FR) 5-4fav (12-2) Tracked leaders, ridden and weakened from 5 out, 3rd of 6, dist behind Strumble Head (12-6) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f (6) gd in May.
Wonderful Charm (FR) Evensfav (12-2) Held up in close touch, headway chasing leaders 11th, led 4 out, narrow lead last, nudged along and always doing enough run-in, clever ride, won at Fontwell 3m 4f (6) gd in May beating Al Co (12-0) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Young Hurricane (IRE) 4-5fav (12-5) Hdwy to ld 15; comf, won at Sedgefield P-t-p Course 3m gd in May beating Shantou Prince (12-5) by 4l, 6 ran.
Spencer Moon (IRE) 5-6fav (12-7) (cp) led 5; drvn clr 13; unchall, won at Trecoed 3m gs in Jun beating Kinari (12-7) by 15l, 4 ran.
