tracked leaders, going well and led after 4 out, quickened and clear approaching next, comfortably
held up, in touch, shortlived effort after 4 out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, lost place 7th, headway after 13th, ridden to chase winner approaching 3 out, 2nd and held when mistake 2 out
led until 7th, soon driven along, lost touch after 13th
tracked leader, led 7th until 9th, stayed prominent, weakened after 4 out
tracked leaders, led 9th, reminder after next, ridden and headed after 4 out, 3rd and weakening when not fluent 3 out
Just Muckin Around has a nice racing weight, handles the fast ground and has the assistance of leading conditional jockey Liam Heard so gets the vote ahead of The Villager and Joe Deane. The last mentioned showed a return to form over course and distance last time and would claims on that evidence, especially if the rain arrived. The Paul Nicholls-trained Kadam is lightly raced over fences and could be open to further improvement over them so cannot be ruled out under Ruby Walsh, while Kosmos Bleu faces no easy task giving weight away all round. Oscar Performance is difficult to recommend on recent evidence and of more interest may be Tom George's The Villager, who has slipped to a fair mark and could be of interest with the stable among the winners of late. Just Muckin Around has plenty going for him though and he looks the one to beat.
Kosmos Bleu (FR) 16-1 (10-11) Chased leaders, joined leaders 11th, ridden after 4 out, kept on same pace from next, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Mr Boo (10-9) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-125 (3) gs in Apr.
The Villager (IRE) 4-1fav (11-6) Held up towards rear, reminders 5th, headway 10th, chased leaders 4 out, ridden 3 out, weakened approaching last, 2nd of 11, 9l behind Bubble Boy (11-1) at Worcester 2m 7f hcp chs 0-110 (4) gd in Apr.
Kadam (IRE) 6-1 (11-5) Always prominent, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace, 4th of 13, 10l behind Lucky Sinna (10-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f amt hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Joe Deane (IRE) 9-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, reminders after 5th, ridden and challenged 4 out, jumped well and led briefly last, ridden flat, just failed, 2nd of 13, nk behind Lucky Sinna (10-7) at Wincanton 2m 5f amt hcp chs 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Just Muckin Around (IRE) 3-1jt-fav (11-4) In touch, headway to track leading pair 8th, chased easy winner 3 out, no impression, 2nd of 9, 12l behind Denarius Secundus (10-3) at Plumpton 2m 1f sll hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs in Apr.
Oscar Performance (IRE) 66-1 (10-1) In touch, ridden 11th, weakened on long run to 4 out pulled up 3 out in race won by Hazeljack (11-2) at Plumpton 3m 2f hcp chs 0-105 (4) sft in Mar, 10 ran.
