in rear, stayed on from 3 out
in touch, lost place and behind from 11th, hit 16th
with leader, weakened 4 out and eased 2 out
held up, headway 14th, ridden and slightly hampered 16th, jumped right 3 out, plugged on
held up, headway 9th, ridden 14th, soon weakened
held up, headway 17th, ridden to chase leader 3 out, led 2 out, ridden out
in touch, mistake 2nd, lost place 4th, headway to chase leaders 13th, weakened 5 out
held up, headway 17th, ridden to chase leaders 3 out, weakening when mistake last
tracked leaders, mistake 16th, ridden to chase leaders 4 out, weakened 3 out
led, hit 3 out, headed soon after and weakened
never travelling and jumped left throughout, behind when pulled up before 4 out
tracked leaders, ridden and weakened 14th, pulled up before 2 out
in touch, ridden 17th, led after 3 out, headed 2 out, kept on close home
Nonrunner
A cracking renewal can go to Scots Grey ahead of last year's winner Knife Edge, Joe Blake and Le Passing to name but a few. Knife Edge beat Vinnie Boy in this event 12 months ago, and showed his well being with a return to the winner's enclosure at Uttoxeter last week. He will have his supporters again, but this year's contest looks much tougher, and we shall side with the Aintree Foxhunter hero Scots Grey. Nicky Henderson's charge showed that he was not finished yet when a fine second to the useful Ballcassidy at Kelso recently, and with Richard Burton sidelined through injury, Sam Waley Cohen is an able deputy. A first-rate line-up also includes the Punchestown winner Joe Blake, but he was beaten by Knife Edge when they met at Cheltenham last April and should just about be held by that rival again. Le Passing fell at Bechers in the Foxhunter but left that behind when a fast-finishing second at Ludlow last time. He is a bit younger than the other principals and could run a big race if his jumping holds up. Coolefind and Coomakista are also worth a mention for place purposes, while Cannon Bridge is also worth inclusion. A brilliant pointer when trained by Evan and Cath Williams, he captured the Champion Hunter Chase at Cheltenham at the start of the month, with Vinnie Boy seven-lengths away. That suggests that he should not be under-estimated, but the pin comes down on Scots Grey.
Back Nine (IRE) 6-5fav (11-13) Mid-division, hit 4th, mistake 10th, headway next, lost place 15th, plugged on to go 2nd approaching last, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 22l behind Whitenzo (11-5) at Exeter 3m 1f hts chs (5) gs in Mar.
Coolefind (IRE) 2-5fav (12-5) Made virt all; blun 13; outclassed rival, won at Guilsborough 3m ptp gd in Apr beating Razer Blade (12-5) by 15l, 7 ran.
Gallik Dawn 11-4fav (11-9) Mid-division, headway 13th, led 20th, clear 2 out, won at Cheltenham 4m 1f hts chs (4) gd beating No Retreat (12-0) by 14l, 9 ran.
Joe Blake (IRE) 6-1 (12-0) Mid-division, 10th 5 out, progress next, 4th 3 out, led after 2 out, strongly pressed last, stayed on well, won at Punchestown 3m 1f hts chs gd in Apr beating It's Like That (12-0) by 3 1/2l, 18 ran.
Knife Edge (USA) Evensfav (12-0) Held up and ran in snatches, headway 7th, ridden to chase leaders 5 out, led approaching 3 out, soon clear, won at Uttoxeter 3m hts chs (6) gd beating Tinarana Lord (11-12) by 15l, 7 ran.
Le Passing (FR) 5-4fav (12-0) Mid-division, mistakes 1st and 7th, headway to chase leaders 13th, ran on flat, just denied, 2nd of 17, shd behind Longstone Boy (11-11) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd.
Scots Grey 6-1 (11-5) Close up, every chance 4 out until no extra towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Ballycassidy (11-11) at Kelso 2m 6f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gf.
Vinnie Boy (IRE) 6-4fav (12-2) Chased leaders, outpaced 5 out, stayed on gamely under pressure from 2 out, led close home, won at Towcester 3m hts chs (3) sft beating Southwestern (12-0) by a shd, 11 ran.
