took keen hold, mid-division on outside, not fluent 2nd, headway 4th, led after next, headed 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last
held up in rear, headway on outside before 6th, challenged 4 out, no impression on winner 2 out, lost 2nd last, kept on
held up and behind, not fluent 3rd, headway after 3 out, mistake 2 out, stayed on same pace flat
mid-division, headway before 2 out, kept on flat
chased leaders, went 2nd after 6th, led when not fluent 2 out, clear 2 out, travelling strongly, eased close home
held up towards rear, well beaten 3 out
chased leaders, lost place before 6th, rallied 2 out, went 2nd last, no impression on winner
tracked leader until 5th, lost place before 7th, behind when pulled up before last
mid-division, some headway when mistake 4 out, weakened before 2 out
held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, well beaten after 3 out
led until after 5th, weakened 2 out
chased leaders, lost place 3 out, soon weakened
A novice hurdle winner here in 2017, BLAIRS COVE lost his way afterwards and slipped down the weights. But three starts over fences seem to have rekindled his enthusiasm and it could pay to stick with Dan Skelton’s charge racing off the same mark as when landing a chase here earlier in the week. Richard Johnson partnered Victarion to victory at Fontwell in March and he’s preferred to Salto Chisco, who looks to be treading water off his current mark after placing again at Market Rasen. Landofsmiles gets first-time headgear and may prove a bigger threat on the back of a couple of better efforts, including in a higher grade at Ayr last time.
Bobble Emerald (IRE) 20-1 (12-5) Tracked leader, mistake 1st, keen, lost place after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up after next, at Sedgefield 2m 1f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Supakalanistic (IRE) 5-1 (11-9) Prominent, led 7th, not fluent 3 out, soon headed, weakened before last, 8th of 13, 22 1/4l behind Comrade Conrad (11-3) at Warwick 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Magna Cartor 8-1 (11-4) Held up on outside, headway racing keenly before 4th, lost place before 6th, well beaten approaching 3 out, last of 8, dist behind Here's Herbie (11-2) at Exeter 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Ruacana 14-1 (11-0) Held up, headway after 4 out, no impression, 4th of 5, 9l behind Young Wolf (11-6) at Ludlow 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Blairs Cove 6-5fav (11-3) Chased leaders on outside, went 2nd 11th, led 13th, clear 2 out, stayed on, won at Warwick 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in May beating Royal Supremo (11-10) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
King Alfonso 8-1 (10-13) Held up in touch, 4 lengths 3rd when blundered 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 7, 24 3/4l behind Candy Burg (11-4) at Ffos Las 2m 3f (4) gs in Oct.
Victarion (IRE) 5-1 (11-1) Held up, headway 2 out, led last, ridden and edged right flat, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp (4) gd in Mar beating Deebaj (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Samson's Reach 80-1 (9-2) Ran in snatches, always behind, tailed off final 3f, last of 10, dist behind Setting Sail (9-9) at Wolverhampton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Apr.
Salto Chisco (IRE) 7-2 (11-8) Mid-division, tracked leaders before 2 out, driven and one pace between last 2, went 3rd after last, edged left and kept on flat, not reach front pair, 3rd of 8, 5 1/2l behind Farmer Boy (10-12) at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Cape Hideaway 33-1 (11-6) Held up in mid-division, driven 3 out, no impression, 11th of 18, 19 1/2l behind Renwick (11-7) at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Mar.
Fenlons Court (IRE) 10-1 (11-0) Mid-division on inside, headway approaching 4 out, 3rd after next, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 11, 23 1/2l behind Ballybough Nora (11-0) at Newton Abbot 3m 2f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Don Juan Du Gouet (FR) 16-1 (11-12) In touch, weakening when jumped left last, 8th of 12, 32 1/4l behind Neverbeen To Paris (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 5f hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Landofsmiles (IRE) 7-2 (10-2) Chased leaders, 2nd before 3 out, ridden and hung left between last 2, lost 2nd approaching last, 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Aye Right (11-7) at Ayr 3m hcp (3) gd in Apr.
