led until 2nd, settled 3rd, went 2nd 5th until after 8th, driven along in 3rd, went 2nd again approaching 3 out, driven to challenge last, led narrowly on inside final 150 yards, held on gamely, all out
chased leading trio, blundered 3rd, led after 8th until approaching 4 out, lost 2nd before next, no chance with leading pair 2 out, weakened before last, lost modest 3rd close home
led 2nd until after next, led again 4th until after 8th, weakened soon after, tailed off
held up in rear, headway 6th, led 4 out, driven before last, narrowly headed final 150 yards, rallied gamely last strides, just failed
last pair, blundered 8th, stayed on from last, went modest 3rd close home
took keen hold, chased leader 3rd, led soon after, headed 4th, chased leader until 5th, driven before 7th, soon in rear, tailed off when blundered 2 out
Sunday City was all out to win at Aintree 12 days ago and may be worth opposing here off a 7lb higher mark, though should again beat fourth Ela Re. PERFECT REWARD beat little of note in a novices' handicap over C&D last time and is 8lb higher now but at least has a bit of scope, which is more than you can say about most of his rivals, and he gets the vote here. Dominican Monk was pulled up when favourite at Stratford on his latest outing, while Riddleofthesands still has a bit to prove over fences and De Luain Gorm has never won off a mark this high. Fighting Chance won at Hereford in April but weakened quickly at Stratford last month and is another high enough in the weights at present.
Sunday City (JPN) 13-2 (11-4) Tracked leaders, jumped right and not fluent 2nd, went 2nd 6th, led approaching 4 out, ridden and headed before last, led again flat, held on, won at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd beating War Party (10-7) by nk, 9 ran.
Fighting Chance (IRE) 12-1 (11-7) Led, ridden and headed 9th, chased leader until weakened 3 out, 5th of 8, 42l behind Marley Roca (10-8) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May.
De Luain Gorm (IRE) 16-1 (10-12) Led, ridden and headed after 3 out, weakened before next, 4th of 13, 33l behind Joker Choker (11-5) at Newton Abbot 2m 3f nh nov hdl (3) gf.
Perfect Reward 5-1 (11-12) Tracked leaders who went clear from 3rd, closed after 6th, led 8th, jumped right from 4 out, clear fom 3 out, easily, won at Worcester 2m nov hcp chs 0-115 (4) gd beating Sadler's Star (10-13) by 22l, 5 ran.
Dominican Monk (IRE) 7-2fav (10-11) Never travelled or jumped with any fluency in rear, struggling 8th, lost touch and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Marley Roca (10-8) at Stratford 2m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in May, 8 ran.
Riddleofthesands (IRE) 15-8fav (11-10) Led until blundered and unseated rider 2nd, in a race won by Gilt Free (11-0) at Hereford 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gd in Apr, 9 ran.
Ela Re 40-1 (11-5) Led until before 4 out, weakened 2 out, 4th of 9, 22l behind Sunday City (11-4) at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd.
