led, mistake 4 out, soon headed and dropped away, well behind when pulled up before 3 out
held up towards rear, steady headway from 9th, tracking leaders in 4th before 3 out, challenged going best 2 out, led before last, ridden and in command flat, stayed on well
tracked leaders on inside, pushed along after 5th, ridden after 7th, struggling to hold place 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out
held up in mid-division, headway 9th, pushed along after 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, well held when mistake 2 out, blundered last
tracked leader, awkward 5th, went left and slow 7th, led after 4 out, ridden and headed 2 out, 3rd and beaten when mistake last, weakened flat
held up towards rear, some headway from after 4 out and 5th 3 out, weakened next, closed on modest 4th towards finish
held up in rear, modest 7th before 3 out, no impression, well beaten when blundered 2 out
held up in mid-division, headway 8th, blundered next, close 3rd before 3 out, 4th when jumped right and looked awkward briefly on landing 2 out, weakened before last
held up in touch on outside after 1st, ridden and lost place after 9th, well beaten from next, pulled up before 3 out
tracked leaders, not fluent 4th, went 2nd before 3 out, led 2 out, ridden and headed approaching last, no impression on winner flat but kept on
NonRunner
The going is unlikely to be an excuse for any of these and any further rain would suit SAM SPINNER, who possibly didn’t make the most of his stamina in the World Hurdle last month. He could only manage a one-paced fifth, behind third-placed Wholestone but ahead of The Worlds End and he had beaten the latter, successful in a Grade 1 here last year, easily in the Long Walk at Ascot in December. The second that day, L'Ami Serge, won the Aintree Hurdle here on Thursday so Jedd O’Keeffe’s stable star is given the chance to restore his reputation. Wholestone is a smart stayer but doesn’t always find much off the bridle and can make mistakes. Champion Hurdle fourth Identity Thief will need to prove his stamina but Old Guard beat Lil Rockerfeller in the National Spirit at Fontwell in February, though is held on an earlier run at Cheltenham and didn’t appear to last home on his one previous try over 3m.
Coole Cody (IRE) 25-1 (11-11) Made all, ridden after last, stayed on well, won at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Mischievious Max (11-5) by 3l, 16 ran.
Identity Thief (IRE) 50-1 (11-10) Chased leaders, mistake and lost place 4th, hit next and lost further ground, kept on before last, went 4th flat but no chance with leaders, 4th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Buveur D'Air (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 33-1 (11-10) Tracked leaders, pushed along briefly after 3 out, ridden after next, beaten off last bend, weakening when hampered last, 13th of 15, 19 1/4l behind Penhill (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Old Guard 11-4 (11-7) Chased leaders, went 2nd at 3rd, led narrowly 2 out, over 1 length ahead last, stayed on run-in, driven out, won at Fontwell 2m 3f (1) gs in Feb beating Lil Rockerfeller (11-9) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Sam Spinner 9-4fav (11-10) Set modest gallop, not fluent 2 out, headed approaching last, beaten after, hung left flat, kept on same pace, 5th of 15, 6 1/4l behind Penhill (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Serienschock (GER) (8-12) won at Compiegne 1m 4f hcp hvy in Mar beating Fontvieille (8-10) by hd, 11 ran.
Shelford (IRE) 20-1 (11-12) Held up behind, headway before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, 3rd of 8, 37 3/4l behind Donna's Diamond (11-1) at Haydock 2m 7f hcp (3) hvy in Jan.
The Worlds End (IRE) 33-1 (11-10) Held up towards rear, headway approaching 2 out, every chance on last bend, unable to quicken last, one pace flat, 7th of 15, 7 1/2l behind Penhill (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
Thomas Campbell 20-1 (11-12) Prominent on outside, ridden between last 2, one pace before last, soon weakened, 14th of 23, 18 1/2l behind Delta Work (10-10) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Wholestone (IRE) 14-1 (11-10) Held up in mid-division, headway 2 out, ridden and unable to quicken approaching last, stayed on flat, went 3rd final 100 yards but not able to challenge front pair, 3rd of 15, 5l behind Penhill (11-10) at Cheltenham 3m (1) sft in Mar.
L'Ami Serge (IRE) 5-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, closed but waited with 3 out, switched right, headway and not much room before last out, challenging when jumped left at the last, soon led, stayed on well, clear towards finish, won at Aintree 2m 4f (1) sft in Apr beating Supasundae (11-7) by 3l, 9 ran.
