chased leader until 12th, not fluent 5 out or 4 out, soon outpaced and beaten, plugged on flat, went 3rd close home
chased leaders, not fluent 9th, challenged 12th, every chance before 2 out, no impression on winner before last, soon lost 2nd and no extra, lost 3rd close home
not always fluent, chased leaders, challenged 12th, led 3 out, ridden flat, eased near finish
chased leaders on outside, slow 4th and 12th, soon outpaced, struggling 5 out, well beaten when pulled up after 2 out
led, mistake 3rd, headed 3 out, soon outpaced, rallied before last, went 2nd, stayed on, no impression on winner
NonRunner
Welsh Bard won easily on his last visit to the racecourse but that was back in the summer of 2015 and he might need this. It took Charlie Mon 18 attempts to get off the mark under Rules and he has a penalty for his Huntingdon victory. IORA GLASS is 0-7 over fences but won over hurdles as recently as April and in much better company than this. He must be the one to beat if taking to the larger obstacles second time around as What A Laugh and Paddy The Oscar are now in the veteran stage. Oscar O'scar won off a higher mark at Kelso last year but is hard to catch right.
Welsh Bard (IRE) 5-2fav (11-6) Tracked leader, led 7 out, ridden before 2 out, clear before last, won at Sedgefield 2m 5f hcp (4) gf in Sep beating Groomed (11-11) by 17l, 6 ran.
Oscar O'scar (IRE) 5-2 (11-13) Tracked winner, weakened from 6 out, pulled up before 3 out, at Sedgefield 2m 3f hcp (4) gd in May.
Iora Glas (IRE) 8-1 (10-13) Mid-division, headway 7th, 3rd and outpaced before 3 out, soon well held, 3rd of 10, 32l behind Knight Of Noir (11-7) at Aintree 3m 1f hcp (3) gd in May.
What A Laugh 6-1 (11-12) Last until pitched on landing and unseated rider 2nd, at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) gs in May.
Paddy The Oscar (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Pressed leader, hit 3rd, led next until 9th, led again approaching 12th until 5 out, chased leading pair, hit 4 out, after, no impression, outpaced before 2 out, plugged on run-in, 4th of 8, 15 1/4l behind Clubs Are Trumps (11-1) at Chepstow 3m hcp (4) gd in Apr.
Charlie Mon (IRE) 10-1 (11-1) Disputed lead, led 11th, hard pressed 2 out, soon ridden, stayed on well under pressure from last, won at Huntingdon 3m hcp (4) gd in May beating Copperfacejack (11-1) by 3 3/4l, 7 ran.