led to 4th, chased leader, led after 7th, headed after 2 out, one pace flat
held up, took keen hold, saddle slipped after 4th, headway approaching 3 out, ridden 2 out, soon hung left, one pace when hung badly left flat
prominent to 5th, soon behind
chased leader to 3rd, remained prominent, every chance 3 out, soon not much room briefly, weakened after 2 out
held up in rear, headway after 5th, ridden 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out
held up towards rear, headway approaching 3 out, soon ridden, no impression
held up in rear, some headway approaching 3 out, soon weakened, mistake last
mid-division, ridden 5th, weakened next
soon settled in mid-division, headway approaching 6th, challenged 3 out, led after 2 out, ridden and edged right flat, ran on well
took keen hold, headway approaching 2nd, led 4th, ridden and headed after 7th, weakened approaching 3 out
held up in rear, blundered 2nd, struggling 6th, never near leaders
Nonrunner
The strong pace at Newton Abbot seemingly suited Konigsbote but that was only his fourth outing over hurdles and, with more to come, Paul Nicholls is taken to get another success with the six-year-old here, with the main dangers rated as Lord Ryeford and Wotchalike. The last mentioned has been in good from of late, winning two of his last three starts in sellers at Uttoxeter and Wetherby but this looks tougher for Jim Best's gelding and he may be best left out of calculations. Gallant Hero escapes a penalty for his win in a conditional jockeys race over course and distance earlier this month and has to be considered off a decent racing weight. He has more solid claims than Brendan Powell's Fit To Drive, who is less exposed than most of these but she does need to improve to trouble the judge. Tom George's Lord Ryeford is well handicapped on chase form but has a bit to find with Gallant Hero on their running here last time and a better bet looks to be Konigsbote.
Dunlea Dancer 22-1 (11-5) Held up, struggling from 2nd, tailed off when pulled up 2 out in race won by Cyd Charisse (11-6) at Southwell 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-115 (4) gd, 13 ran.
Konigsbote (GER) 3-1fav (11-7) Held up, hit 4th, struggling next, headway after 3 out, led next, ran on, won at N Abbot 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gf beating Dark Energy (11-8) by 2 1/2l, 10 ran.
No Greater Love (FR) 50-1 (10-6) Mid-division, hit 8th, weakened after 3 out, 18th of 20, well behind Oberon Moon (11-5) at Cheltenham 3m nov hcp hdl (3) gs in Apr.
Nounou 11-2 (11-9) Held up, headway 4 out, led after 2 out, headed last, ridden and kept on same pace, no extra towards finish, 6th of 11, 5l behind Scutch Mill (11-9) at Cartmel 2m 1f cnd hcp hdl 0-105 (4) gs in May.
Fit To Drive 11-2 (10-2) Led, hit 3rd, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching last where mistake, weakened and lost 2 places flat, 4th of 12, 7l behind Benmore Boy (10-12) at Towcester 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs in May.
Yufo (IRE) 5-2fav (12-0) Held up & wl bhnd; hdwy 14; cl 5th when blun bad 2 out; pulled up in race won by Sweet Shooter (11-7) at Holnicote 3m ptp gd in May, 9 ran.
Grave Doubts 25-1 (10-13) Mid-division, hit 6th, struggling 8th, tailed off when pulled up 3 out in race won by One Nation (10-10) at Uttoxeter 3m cnd sll hdl (5) gd in May, 13 ran.
Thenford Flyer (IRE) 10-1 (11-7) Tracked leaders, led after 3 out, ridden and headed before next, soon weakened, 5th of 19, 29l behind Avant Gardiste (10-10) at Wincanton 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd in Apr.
Lord Ryeford (IRE) 4-5fav (11-6) Held up in rear, not clear run on inside after 7th, switched right and headway approaching 3 out, no extra near finish, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Gallant Hero (11-7) at Worcester 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd.
Amir El Jabal (FR) 6-1 (11-7) Held up in rear, mistakes 1st and 4th, jumped slowly next, soon driven, weakened 3 out, 6th of 9, 29l behind Cordage (10-7) at Towcester 2m sll hdl (5) gf in May.
Gallant Hero 33-1 (11-7) Held up, headway 5th, led after 7th, clear approaching 2 out, stayed on well under pressure flat, won at Worcester 2m 4f cnd hcp hdl 0-100 (4) gd beating Lord Ryeford (11-6) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Wotchalike (IRE) 2-5fav (11-5) Held up in rear, headway 4 out, shaken up to lead before next, clear last, pushed out, easily, won at Wetherby 2m 7f sll hdl (5) gd beating Olifan d'Oudairies (10-12) by 7l, 8 ran.
