led, driven along and headed approaching 17th, weakening when jumped slowly 3 out
chased leaders, hampered 12th, soon lost place, struggling badly from 15th, tailed off when pulled up before 5 out
chased leader from 2nd, upsides when bumped and fell 12th
behind, jumped slowly 2nd, driven along from there, headway 13th, mistake 16th, weakened before next, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out
held up, headway 16th, went 3rd 18th, no impression from 3 out
held up towards rear, badly hampered 12th, behind after, blundered badly 15th, pulled up before 16th
in touch, slightly hampered 12th, challenged from 17th, ridden to lead 3 out, drew clear approaching 2 out, eased towards finish
mistakes, held up, blundered badly 14th, soon lost touch, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out
mid-division, headway 9th, led approaching 17th, headed 3 out, soon no chance with winner, held on easily for 2nd
chased leader until jumped slowly 2nd, niggled along after 7th, lost place 9th, some headway again after 12th, weakened after 16th, tailed off
Nonrunner
Tribal Venture, Around Before and Rodalko are three against the field in a tough race to call for punters and the tentative vote is given to Around Before. The selection was a fair third behind On The Outside when last seen,remains on a fair mark and with his yard in better form now he looks the value bet in an open affair. Tribal Venture rates the main danger on his best form but he was slightly disappointing off this mark last time out so can not be put forward with any confidence. Rodalko is another that could go well but he has not progressed as expected of late and he looks high enough in the weights for what he has actually archived. Elvis Returns won well last time out when beating Place Above but this looks more competitive and he will need to improve again to defy his penalty. Of the remainder Mioche d'Estruval looks on a handy mark and could go well at a price but consistency is not his strong point and in a race where stakes should be kept to a minimum for the winner we return to Around Before.
Tribal Venture (FR) 9-2 (11-6) Chased leaders, pushed along 13th, outpaced next, 6th of 8, 16l behind Harlov (10-0) at Kelso 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf.
Native Ivy (IRE) 16-1 (11-1) Held up in rear, ridden and struggling 12th, tailed off when pulled up 4 out in race won by Yardbird (10-9) at Newbury 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Mar, 17 ran.
Gumley Gale 28-1 (10-0) Behind, ridden 11th, headway 3 out, stayed on flat, 3rd of 8, 2l behind Sir Rembrandt (11-12) at Uttoxeter 3m hcp chs 0-145 (2) gf.
Mioche d'Estruval (FR) 11-2 (11-12) Led to 4th, soon lost place, tailed off when pulled up at the 13th in race won by Calvic (11-10) at Ayr 3m 3f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gs in Apr, 12 ran.
Around Before (IRE) 4-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, went 2nd 12th until hit 3 out, one pace from 2 out, 3rd of 10, 4 1/2l behind On The Outside (10-11) at Stratford 3m hcp chs 0-120 (D) gd in Sept.
Elvis Returns 6-1jt-fav (11-3) Mid-division, headway 7th, led approaching 14th, hung right approaching 4 out, ridden 3 out, stayed on, won at Uttoxeter 3m 2f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gs beating Place Above (10-6) by 3 1/2l, 15 ran.
Tommy Carson 7-1 (10-3) Not always fluent, chased leaders, driven along and lost place before 8th, behind when hit 12th, no chance after, 6th of 8, 38l behind Hever Road (11-3) at N Abbot 3m 2f hcp chs 0-120 (3) gf in Apr.
Rodalko (FR) 5-1 (10-10) Prominent, 3rd before halfway, close 2nd from 10th, led briefly before 4 out, 3rd when slight mistake 3 out, soon weakened and eased, 12th of 14, well behind One Four Shannon (10-2) at Punchestown 3m 1f hcp chs 0-145 gd in Apr.
