held up in mid-division mistake 3rd, closer order to 4th after 7th, went 2nd 4 out until ridden approaching 2 out, left modest 2nd and badly hampered 2 out, no chance with winner
held up towards rear, steady headway after 7th, close 5th at 9th, 3rd 4 out, tracked leader before 2 out, challenging for lead when left clear 2 out, ridden out
chased leader, bumped 10th and next, led after 5 out, headed before next, soon weakened
behind, lost touch 7th, tailed off and pulled up before next
held up, not fluent 1st, hit 10th, 6th and travelling ok when fell 11th
raced wide in mid-division, lost place and towards rear 6th, struggling in 6th 5 out, some headway next, plugging on when left modest 5th 2 out
led, went right 10th and next, hit 11th, headed after next, weakened quickly and behind when blundered 4 out, pulled up before next
took keen hold, chased leading pair, led approaching 4 out, narrowly headed when fell 2 out
chased leading trio until lost place after 7th, no chance when slihtly hampered 11th
towards rear, not fluent 5th, hampered 11th, headway before 4 out, went 4th 3 out, left 3rd next, kept on flat
behind, not on terms and struggling 5 out, stayed on from 3 out, left 4th next, kept on flat
Nonrunner
Mister McGoldrick was a class act in his prime but will soon be turning 15 and must be worth opposing on his reappearance, despite his love affair with this track. My Moment didn't beat much at Fakenham last week and may struggle under his penalty, but Persian Gates appears to be on the upgrade and Araldur got his act together over hurdles last season and connections must feel he is ready to resume a promising chase career. Shoreacres may be capable of better, while Quartz De Thaix and Safari Adventures have ability but there could be more to come from PHIDIPPIDES this season. Evan Williams' gelding, a decent novice hurdler two years ago, had his problems over fences last term but that will have been worked on over the summer and he may not be badly handicapped if the penny has finally dropped.
Araldur (FR) 3-10fav (11-6) Made all, not fluent 3rd, clear 2 out, easily, won at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Lombardy Boy (10-11) by 15l, 8 ran.
Fistral Beach (IRE) 28-1 (10-9) In touch, pecked badly 9th, went 4th from 11th, blunderd badly 14th, weakened 3 out, 15th of 30, well behind Always Waining (10-4) at Aintree 2m 5f lstd hcp chs (1) gd in Apr.
Mister McGoldrick 16-1 (11-1) Chased leaders, ridden and weakened 4 out, 6th of 15, 26l behind Tartak (11-8) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gs in Jan.
Quartz de Thaix (FR) 7-1 (11-2) In touch on outside, outpaced after 4 out soon ridden, kept on same pace from next, never on terms, 7th of 20, 16l behind Holmwood Legend (10-6) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Mar.
Phidippides (IRE) Evensfav (11-4) Took keen hold and not always fluent, tracked winner 1st, stumbled 10th, 1/2 length down 3 out, mistake 2 out, soon switched right, no impression last, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Hector's Choice (10-12) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov chs (3) gd in Mar.
Shoreacres (IRE) 16-1 (10-3) Fell 1st, in a race won by Wishfull Thinking (11-10) at Punchestown 2m 5f nov chs gd in May, 17 ran.
Safari Adventures (IRE) 14-1 (11-6) Led, soon clear, headed 3 out, ridden before last, no impression, 2nd of 11, 8l behind Persian Gates (10-7) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs.
Persian Gates (IRE) 9-2fav (10-7) Tracked leaders, led 3 out, kept on well before last, won at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs beating Safari Adventures (11-6) by 8l, 11 ran.
Misstree Dancer 20-1 (11-8) Held up in mid-division, headway after 12th, ridden after next, 4th when not fluent 3 out, one pace, 4th of 10, 13l behind On His Own (10-7) at Ayr 3m 1f nov chs (2) gd in Apr.
Charingworth (IRE) 14-1 (11-1) Held up, mistakes 3 out and 2 out, always in rear, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Laterly (10-12) at Aintree 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gd in May.
Mr Crystal (FR) 25-1 (11-4) Behind, outpaced 11th, never on terms, 5th of 8, 18l behind Fiendish Flame (11-4) at Musselburgh 2m 4f nov chs (3) gs in Feb '10.
My Moment (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Made all, ridden 3 lengths clear after 2 out, kept up to work flat, won at Fakenham 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd beating Court Red Handed (11-10) by 3l, 5 ran.
