held up towards rear, closed after 3rd, jumped right and mistake 12th, weakened before 2 out
held up in mid-division, jumped left and bumped 4th, not fluent and outpaced 3 out, rallied before last, led flat, stayed on well, won going away
made most until before 2 out, no extra before last
mid-division, closed from 11th, challenged 2 out, every chance flat, no extra and lost 3rd close home
prominent, led before 2 out, driven and edged left after last and bumped rival, soon headed, no impression on winner towards finish, finished 2nd, placed 3rd
held up in rear, mistake 5th, fell next
held up in rear, dived at 5th, headway 12th, chasing leaders 3 out, no extra before last
prominent early, pushed along towards rear 8th, hampered 10th, behind next, pulled up after
mid-division, lost place before 4th, mistake 10th, headway 12th, switched left before last, every chance on inside when short of room and hit rail flat, lost momentum and held after, stayed on and went 3rd close home, finished 3rd, placed 2nd
chased leaders, not fluent 4th, blundered and unseated rider 10th
in touch in mid-division, not fluent 2nd, bumped 4th and rider lost irons, pulled up after next
towards rear, mistake 5th, stayed on from 2 out, never on terms
Any further drying of conditions would help Captain Tom Cat, runner-up to the in-form Black Gerry at Plumpton nine days ago, and quicker going wouldn’t inconvenience Herbiers, who seems to thrive at this time of year, but all of Heltenham’s victories over fences have come on ground with plenty of give, though he does hold Zhiguli and Super Six on Newbury running. A winner here in November, Unanswered Prayers is still relatively unexposed over fences but GEMIRANDE has come on in leaps and bounds this season and will take some pegging back in this if getting into a rhythm.
Cilaos Emery (FR) 80-1 (12-0) Led, ridden when joined and passed after usual 2 out, weakened quickly after final fence, 8th of 10, 24 1/2l behind Elvis Mail (11-5) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Caribean Boy (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Held up towards rear, struggling 8th, mistake 10th and 11th, pulled up after, at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
Coole Cody (IRE) 28-1 (11-0) Jumped right, led, not fluent 11th, headed before 2 out, soon weakened, 8th of 23, 11 1/4l behind Seddon (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Herbiers (FR) 11-8fav (11-6) Chased leader, slow 1st, 1 length down 4 out, still travelling well 3 out, disputed lead 2 out, pushed along and led outright approaching last, stayed on well run-in, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Mar beating Nothin To Ask (11-2) by 2l, 3 ran.
Gemirande (FR) 3-1 (10-2) Jumped well, led until narrowly headed 4 out, chased winner, upsides at the last, ridden and strong challenge run-in, held final 100 yards, rallied close home, just held, 2nd of 7, hd behind The Big Bite (10-5) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (1) gd in Mar.
Heltenham (FR) 7-2jfav (10-11) Waited with in rear, hit 9th, steady headway tracking leaders before 11th, went 2nd before 2 out, led on bit last, quickened readily clear run-in, easily, won at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar beating Numitor (11-9) by 5 1/2l, 9 ran.
Presentandcounting (IRE) 13-8fav (11-0) Went steadily to post, led and raced keenly, soon clear, reduced lead before 4th, headed 3 out, soon ridden and outpaced, rallied into modest 3rd run-in, 3rd of 6, 6 1/4l behind Accidental Rebel (11-0) at Chepstow 2m 3f (1) gd in Oct.
Unanswered Prayers (IRE) 85-40 (10-5) Jumped well, led and went clear 7th, reduced lead 5 out, ridden after 3 out, driven between last two, headed last, weakened run-in, 2nd of 3, 9l behind Coeur Serein (10-11) at Newbury 2m 7f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Super Six 7-2jfav (11-3) Raced in 3rd, went 2nd before 3rd until before 6th, chased leaders, pushed along and outpaced after 5 out, bad mistake 4 out, finished tired, 4th of 9, dist behind Heltenham (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Captain Tom Cat (IRE) 5-1 (10-13) Led, increased tempo home turn, ridden and hard pressed 2 out when not fluent, soon headed, rallied flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Black Gerry (11-10) at Plumpton 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Zhiguli (IRE) 11-1 (11-3) Jumped right, led after 1st until after 6th (water), chased leader, hit 11th, pushed along and lost 2nd turning in, went 2nd again 4 out until ridden before 2 out, plugged on in modest 3rd, 3rd of 9, 21 1/2l behind Heltenham (10-11) at Newbury 2m 4f hcp (2) sft in Mar.
Deyrann de Carjac (FR) 25-1 (10-2) Towards rear, ridden after 13th, never involved, well beaten from 3 out, 8th of 16, 20l behind Midnight River (11-4) at Cheltenham 2m 5f hcp (1) sft in Jan.
