chased leaders, led 4 out, pressed from 3 out, held on near finish, all out
towards rear, headway before 4 out, ridden and weakened before next
towards rear, hit 7th, effort 5 out, soon ridden and weakened next, pulled up
led, headed before 10th, blundered 11th, soon lost place, tailed off
close up, led before 10th, ridden and headed 4 out, weakened before 2 out
chased leaders, headway 9th, challenged from 3 out, every chance run-in, rallied towards finish, just held
mid-division, weakened from 5 out
Gabrial The Great hasn't always looked the easiest of rides but Tom Scudamore has won on him though his mount is better known as a chaser these days. He reverted to hurdles with a big run last time but isn't so well handicapped over the bigger obstacles. BALLOTIN is a tremendous addition to Philip Hobbs' team having won eleven times in France at all kinds of levels. He looks a class act and a mark of 139 may be underestimating his abilities. He gets the nod as Delusionofgrandeur had little to beat when completing a double in the spring and was out of his depth at Ayr later. After Hours has finished runner-up in five of his last six but has won races and is rarely beaten far.
Ballotin (FR) (11-0) 3rd of 11, 4l behind Calva Du Rib (10-10) at Auteuil 2m 6f hvy in May.
Katgary (FR) 11-2 (11-9) Chased leaders who were clear after slow jump 2nd, not fluent 4th, never closed and well beaten 4th after last, 4th of 6, 27l behind Wisty (11-0) at Cartmel 2m 1f hcp (2) gs in Aug.
Definite Future (IRE) 22-1 (11-12) Chased leaders, ridden 4 out, mistake and beaten 2 out, weakened last, 6th of 7, 14l behind Vosne Romanee (11-7) at Worcester 2m hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Straidnahanna (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders, lost place 4 out, weakened next, pulled up 2 out, at Ayr 4m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Delusionofgrandeur (IRE) 5-1 (11-0) Tracked leader to 13th, outpaced 4 out, ridden and weakened from next, 8th of 12, 27 3/4l behind Label Des Obeaux (11-12) at Ayr 3m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Monbeg River (IRE) 11-2 (11-12) Held up mid-division, headway in 3rd before 4 out, chased winner from 3 out, lost 2nd place run-in, no extra, 3rd of 8, 6 1/4l behind Captain Redbeard (11-7) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Jan.
After Hours (IRE) 5-1 (11-2) Held up in touch in rear, closed 5th, challenged 12th, driven and every chance flat, held final 75 yards, 2nd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Regal Flow (10-11) at Warwick 3m hcp (3) sft in Mar.
Gabrial The Great (IRE) 4-1 (11-0) In rear, headway before 2 out, led after last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 6, nk behind Braavos (11-7) at Southwell 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Sep.
