held up in rear, hit 11th, losing touch from next, tailed off
in touch, mistake 9th, ridden after 12th, soon weakened
mid-division, ridden after 12th, soon weakened, jumped right 13th, tailed off
prominent, ridden and weakened from 3 out
raced keen, tracked leaders, went 2nd 13th, jumped right and rider lost iron briefly 3 out, ridden after 2 out, led final 100 yards, stayed on
chased leader until led 6th, headed 8th, led again 10th, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, headed final 100 yards, no extra
held up in rear, struggling after 11th, behind 12th, hit 4 out
held up in touch, went 3rd after 3 out, soon no impression, jumped right last
led to 6th, led again 8th to 10th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, shaken up after 10th, driven along 12th, blundered 13th, went moderate 5th before last
Paul Nicholls can strike gold with Nevada Royale, while Nikola, Here's Jonny and Teamgeist can all make their presence felt over fences this term. Nevada Royale has won three times between-the-flags in France, and has been giving all the right signals at home that he will develop into an exciting young staying chaser. If Sam Thomas can get him jumping in the lead early on, the six-year-old can prove yet another Ditcheat inmate to follow. Nikola was put in his place by That Look at Huntingdon recently, but the winner is very highly-rated, and another good effort is on the cards today. Here's Jonny is interesting on his chase debut, as he has won first time out in each of the past two seasons, so goes well fresh, and his trainer Victor Dartnell boasts a 40 per-cent strike at Utoxeter. Useful over hurdles, he too could develop into a chaser to follow over this sort of trip. Teamgeist is another dark horse that was just touched off at Folkestone in February. He too looks every inch a chaser, and has to be given a mention. So, a race full of interest then, and one in which Nevada Royale gets the nod.
Acairde (IRE) 14-1 (11-12) Towards rear, slow 1st, reminders approaching halfway, trailing from before 4 out, 11th of 16, well behind Native Churchtown (11-5) at Thurles 2m 2f beg chs gs in Mar.
Allistathebarrista (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Always behind, reminders 5th, pulled up after 7th pulled up 5 out in race won by Mckelvey (11-5) at Bangor 3m hcp hdl 0-140 (2) gd in Mar, 16 ran.
Furze Hill (IRE) 1-2fav (12-0) 2nd til led aft 15; mist & hdd 2 out; rallied to ld flat; all out, won at Godstone 3m ptp gd in Apr beating Noble Present (12-0) by a hd, 9 ran.
Gidam Gidam (IRE) 16-1 (10-5) In touch, weakened 4 out, 13th of 19, 27l behind Abragante (11-0) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gd in May.
Here's Johnny (IRE) 2-1 (11-6) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, smooth headway 3 out, led on bit next, soon clear, pushed out, easily, won at Perth 3m nh nov hdl (2) sft in Apr beating Major Oak (11-3) by 21l, 9 ran.
Nikola (FR) 4-1 (11-2) Held up, headway 14th, chased winner approaching 2 out, no impression, 2nd of 6, 4l behind That Look (10-11) at Huntingdon 3m nov chs (3) gd in Oct.
Northern Vic (IRE) 50-1 (10-11) In rear, some headway 6th, weakened from 8th, 8th of 14, 21l behind Annie's Answer (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar.
Ordre de Bataille (FR) 5-1fav (11-8) In touch, hit 8th, chased leaders approaching 3 out, weakened from next, 9th of 14, 28l behind Lothian Falcon (11-2) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gd in Apr.
Panthers Run 25-1 (10-11) Mid-division, effort before 2 out, soon weakened, 7th of 12, 14l behind Tot O'Whiskey (11-0) at Hexham 2m 4f mdn hdl (5) gd in Oct.
The Real Deal (IRE) 5-4 (10-12) Held up, behind when fell at the 5th in race won by Patman Du Charmil (11-8) at Uttoxeter 2m 5f nov chs (3) gf in Oct, 5 ran.
Mr President (GER) 3-1 (11-0) Mid-division, headway 3 out, ridden and weakened next, 7th of 12, 28l behind dhtrs Buck Whaley (10-6) & Rayshan (10-7) at Carlisle 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-140 (2) hvy in Jan '06.
Nevada Royale (FR) 4-7fav (12-0) Made all; drew clr 3 out; lft virt solo last, won at Charlton Horetho 3m ptp gd in Mar beating Barney Blue (12-0) by 2l, 8 ran.
Teamgeist (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) In touch, headway 5th, ridden to lead after 2 out, weakening flat, headed close home, 2nd of 12, 1 1/2l behind Sydney (11-4) at Folkestone 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) hvy in Feb.
