held up, blundered 12th, headway 15th, lost place when not much room 16th, pulled up before last
mid-division, mistake 10th, headway 12th, went 2nd 16th, challenged before last, 3 lengths down flat, stayed on well, just held
led, blundered badly and headed 15th, weakened 4 out
tracked leaders, mistake 3 out, ridden before next, every chance before not fluent last, weakened flat
mid-division, mistake 15th, not fluent 4 out, no extra from 2 out
tracked leaders on outside, 2nd from 11th, led 15th, not fluent 4 out or last, 3 lengths clear flat, just held on
prominent, not fluent 10th, lost place 16th, pulled up before 2 out
held up in rear, headway from 15th, ridden before 2 out, one pace well before last, no extra
towards rear, blundered 1st, behind 15th, mistake next, pulled up before 4 out
held up in rear, sometimes jumped left, mistake 15th, well beaten after next
prominent, lost place when not fluent 12th, in rear from next, behind 15th, pulled up before 4 out
Nonrunner
Irish raider Lord Fingal is unbeaten under Rules and has looked increasingly impressive with each run. He seems sure to go close but has yet to travel anything like this far and is somewhat reluctantly passed over in favour of the well-named MR MERCURIAL. Shelia Crow's gelding really does need everything to drop right for him but he is the sweetest of travellers and has looked better than ever the last twice, especially when impressing at the Cheltenham hunter chase evening. He has a couple or furlongs or so further to negotiate now but wasn't stopping up the Cheltenham hill and is expected to handle three and a half miles. He holds Empire Builder on that running. Indiana Bay and Wayupinthesky both turn up in good heart and warrant shortlist inclusion as there are minimal stamina concerns about either. They look the each-way options in an excellent renewal.
Blackwood Rover (IRE) 16-1 (11-9) Towards rear, improved before 9th, hit 11th, disputing 2nd when pecked last, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 8, 4l behind Mountain Philip (11-2) at Tipperary 2m 7f nov hunt ch sft.
Connies Cross (IRE) 20-1 (11-5) Soon mid-division, tracked leaders 17th, left 2nd 4 out, led between last 2, ridden and headed narrowly flat, kept on, held towards finish, 3rd of 15, 2 1/2l behind Major Malarkey (11-13) at Cheltenham 4m 1f hts chs (4) gs in Apr.
Empire Builder (IRE) 4-1fav (11-5) Led to 15th, chased leaders, outpaced before 3 out, kept on under pressure before last, 3rd of 17, 6l behind Mr Mercurial (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gs in Apr.
Following Dreams (IRE) 5-4fav (12-0) Held up in touch, tracked leaders 9th, went 3rd after 4 out, switched inside to challenge approaching 2 out, ridden and every chance after last, well held final 75 yards, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Harbour Court (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gs in Apr.
Indiana Bay (IRE) 5-6fav (12-0) Prominent, led after 13th, drew clear from 4 out, very easy, won at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hts chs (6) sft beating Iron Chancellor (11-13) by 32l, 5 ran.
Lord Fingal (IRE) Evensfav (11-9) Close up and disputed lead, on terms and jumped slightly right 7th, slightly left at times after, gained narrow lead 11th, travelling smoothly from 3 out, slight mistake next, stayed on well run-in, comfortably, won at Down Royal 2m 7f hnt chs beating Definite Surprise (11-4) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Moscow Blaze (IRE) 7-4 (11-0) Prsd wnr 9-12; wknd app 2 out, 3rd of 4, 37l behind Midnight Haze (11-0) at Radnor & West Hereford 3m ptp gd.
Mr Mercurial (IRE) 4-1fav (11-10) Towards rear, mid-division 6th, tracked leaders 4 out, went 2nd next, poised to challenge after 2 out, shaken up to lead flat, ridden out, won at Cheltenham 3m 1f hts chs (4) gs in Apr beating Repeat Business (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 17 ran.
Star Of Massini (IRE) 7-2fav (12-0) Chased leaders, 2nd before 4 out until pushed along before 3 out, not fluent 3 out, went 2nd after the last and kept on under pressure run-in, not much room on rail when lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Full Trottle (11-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hts chs (6) gs.
Wayupinthesky (IRE) 2-1fav (12-0) Held up in 5th, jumped left (badly early stages), closed 13th, led 2 out, driven out, won at Perth 3m hts chs (5) gs in Apr beating Railway Dillon (11-5) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Tandori 33-1 (11-1) Led, mistake 16th, headed 5 out, mistake next, soon outpaced, no chance after, 4th of 7, 29l behind Chosen Milan (11-7) at Cheltenham 3m 1f mares hunt chs (4) gs in Apr.
Blinding Lights (IRE) 7-2 (11-7) Chased leader until after 10th, chased leaders, 2nd again approaching 4 out where every chance, soon ridden, lost 2nd 2 out, driven in 3rd and one pace before the last, 3rd of 10, 7l behind The Wealerdealer (11-5) at Exeter 3m hts chs (6) gd.
