prominent, jumped left and led 13th, headed 14th, led 5 out until after 4 out, weakened after 3 out
in touch, mistake 6th, behind from 14th, tailed off
prominent, mistake 9th, weakened 16th, tailed off
chased leaders, ridden after 14th, 5th and in touch when blundered and unseated rider 4 out
mid-division, headway approaching 17th, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression
led, jumped slowly 2nd, headed 13th, led 14th to 17th, weakened 3 out, tailed off
not jumped well and behind, losing touch when jumped violently left 15th, refused 16th
in rear, blundered badly 13th and pulled up
held up, headway 16th, led 3 out, clear well before 2 out, mistake last, stayed on well
mistakes, mid-division, lost place after 11th, no danger after
mid-division, headway 9th, not fluent 14th, led after 4 out, blundered and headed 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened, blundered last
held up, headway from 4 out, hung left approaching 2 out, stayed on same pace
Nonrunner
Bubble Boy comes into this on the back of wins at Huntingdon and Wetherby on his last two starts and has to be respected on the bid for a hat trick but College Ace has a 10lb pull with Brendan Powell's gelding on running at Huntingdon and is taken to reverse the form with Red Echo looking the pick of the remainder. The selection has run encouragingly over hurdles since that run at Huntingdon and the Phillip Hobbs-trained gelding looks worth a wager to resume winning ways off what seems a favourable mark. Waynesworld has given little cause of optimism of late and may need some help from the handicapper, while Broken Reed is less exposed than most of these but is not certain to appreciate the step up in trip. Course winner On The Outside was very disappointing on his recent return and looks best left out of calculations, while Lord Anner would seem to be one of the lesser lights among the yard of Paul Nicholls. Red Echo ran better at Wincanton last time and would have claims if able to build on that effort but College Ace seems to be well treated and he is preferred.
Bubble Boy (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Jumped well, made all, stayed on gamely from last, won at Wetherby 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gf in Apr beating Hautclan (11-12) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
On The Outside (IRE) 10-1 (11-9) Led to 3rd, led 4th to 6th, remained prominent, weakened before 3 out, behind when pulled up 2 out in race won by Out The Black (11-8) at Bangor 3m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Red Echo (FR) 7-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 8th, led 16th, hit 3 out, soon headed and ridden, rallied briefly run-in, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Matt The Thrasher (11-9) at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf.
Liverpool Echo (FR) 15-2 (10-12) Always behind, hit 8th, driven along and no chance when slightly hampered 4 out, 6th of 11, 31l behind Alexanderthegreat (10-12) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hcp chs 0-140 (2) gd in Apr.
College Ace (IRE) 7-2 (11-2) Chased leader, led 5th until 3 out, soon ridden, kept on same pace, drifted right flat, 2nd of 7, 6l behind Tritonville Lodge (11-2) at Exeter 3m hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gf in Apr.
Lord Anner (IRE) 4-1 (12-7) (ts) a bhnd; t.o & pulled up in race won by Steppes of Gold (12-7) at Hackwood Park 3m ptp gd in Mar, 11 ran.
Waynesworld (IRE) 33-1 (10-4) In rear, headway 13th, weakened 3 out, 4th of 13, 10l behind Silver Sedge (10-8) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd.
Broken Reed (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Chased leaders, ridden 9th, outpaced 4 out, stayed on from 2 out, 4th of 13, 13l behind Hi Humpfree (11-9) at Southwell 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gf.
