held up, behind from 8th, tailed off
prominent, not fluent 9th, weakened approaching 4 out, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
chased leaders, went 2nd approaching 7th, every chance 3 out, weakened approaching 2 out, 4th and tired when jumped left last
held up, hit 1st, jumped slowly 2nd, jumped right 6th, weakened after 8th, well behind when pulled up before 10th
held up, headway after 5th, chased winner approaching 2 out, no extra after last
prominent, led 2nd, driven along approaching 2 out, ran on well
mid-division, hit 5th, pushed along after 9th, never dangerous
led to 2nd, remained prominent, stumbled 6th, no impression from 4 out, went 3rd flat
pulled hard, tracked leaders, hit 5th and 4 out, weakened approaching 2 out, narrow 3rd and beaten when fell last
held up, driven along and struggling after 8th, never near leaders
Nonrunner
All conditions seem to come alike to Rookery Lad who is in a rich vein of form and is taken to complete a four-timer, with Feel The Pride a considerable danger and Space Star a frame possible. The selection has won three Wetherby handicap chases in succession, once over this sort of trip and two others over half a mile further. A pair of those successes came on fast ground and despite a hefty hike in the weights of two stones since that first win, he still looks well treated and provided he handles this undulating track he can score. Feel The Pride comes from an in form team and goes well on a sound surface. He can go well off this sort of mark but has been bang out of form on his last two starts and has it to prove here. Space Star will relish conditions and trip but just looks to be a bit too high in the weights, while The Last Cast and Bonus Bride both have jumping errors and ground conditions to overcome and Portavadie looks a horse in the grip of the handicapper, so we take Rookery Lad to make it four.
The Last Cast 6-1 (11-4) Led, headed 3rd, led again after 8th, blundered 4 out, ridden and weakening when very tired and fell 2 out in race won by Fool On The Hill (11-3) at Stratford 2m 5f hcp chs 0-140 (2) sft in May, 8 ran.
Bonus Bridge (IRE) 7-2 (11-6) Tracking leaders in 4th when fell at the 2nd in race won by Bleu Superbe (11-9) at Cheltenham 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Apr, 6 ran.
Feel The Pride (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Towards rear, some progress 9th, never on terms, weakened 3 out, 4th of 6, 34l behind Wrags To Riches (11-3) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in May.
Portavadie 6-1 (11-3) Led, blundered and headed 2 out, 2 lengths down and driven when fell at the last in race won by Green Tango (11-8) at Perth 2m nov chs (3) gf in Apr, 9 ran.
Master Rex 10-3fav (11-12) Made most to 5th, remained prominent, regained lead after 8th, headed 4 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, weakened run-in, 5th of 11, 15l behind Jacks Craic (11-12) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Mar.
Rookery Lad Evensfav (10-5) Tracked leader, led 5th, made rest, ridden clear after 2 out, comfortably, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) hvy in May beating Key Phil (11-7) by 15l, 3 ran.
Space Star 13-2 (11-6) In touch, ridden to chase leading pair 4 out, weakened after 3 out, 3rd of 6, 17l behind Croix De Guerre (11-12) at Stratford 2m 1f nov chs (D) gf in Jul.
Lindsay (FR) 10-3 (11-9) Held up, hit 6th, mistake 11th, headway 13th, 4th and weakening when fell 4 out in race won by Nayodabayo (11-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Apr, 6 ran.
