held up towards rear, not fluent 6th, headway from 3 out, 6th and no impression on leaders last
chased leaders on inside, weakened after 3 out, hampered when well beaten 2 out
held up towards rear, steady headway on outside from 4th, challenged after 3 out, left in lead 2 out, 3 lengths clear last, headed close home
held up in rear, not fluent 6th, headway 3 out, hampered 2 out, no impression and well held 8th last
mid-division, closed after 5th, not much room bend after 6th, well beaten from 3 out
held up in rear, headway going well before 2 out, ridden and went 3rd when mistake last, no impression flat and dropped to 4th
jumped right, led 1st, headed when hampered 2 out, soon weakened
chased leaders, ridden after 6th, lost place before 3 out, soon behind
prominent, mistake and unseated rider 5th
held up towards rear, headway on outside form 3 out, 5th last, no impression on leaders
mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway before 3 out, hampered and left 2nd 2 out, 3 lengths down last, stayed on well, led close home
led until 1st, prominent, not fluent 3 out, led before fell 2 out
chased leaders, ridden 3 out, hampered 2 out, beaten after, 7th and no impression last, kept on
mid-division, not fluent 3rd, towards rear on outside 3 out, 9th last, never dangerous
mid-division, not fluent 5th, ridden after 3 out, beaten when hampered 2 out
held up in rear, switched right and headway 2 out, 4th when mistake last, went 3rd and kept on flat, not able to challenge
Chesterfield was third in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr last month after a fine run in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham. He’s only gone up 3lb and is one for the short-list but an eye-catcher in that Ayr race was THE UNIT, who stayed on strongly despite having his momentum halted by a mistake at the last. That was the latter’s first run over hurdles since he finished third in a Grade 1 at Aintree last year but he has been competing in very strong company over fences. John Constable beat Optimus Prime by 14 lengths in this last year but the second is now 22lb better off and Evan Williams may have stronger claims with Silver Streak. Havana Beat is improving at a rate of knots and thumped Dear Sire by 10 lengths at Aintree while Act Of Valour bids to become the first four-year-old in five years to land this valuable handicap. All Set To Go could go well at a price but Forth Bridge, Capitaine and Lord Napier appear to have plenty to do at the weights.
John Constable (IRE) 66-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, niggled along before 3 out, well beaten after 2 out, 9th of 11, dist behind Buveur D'Air (11-10) at Cheltenham 2m (1) hvy in Mar.
Dear Sire (FR) 12-1 (11-6) Mid-division, headway to lead 3 out, narrowly headed last, briefly left in lead until badly hampered by fallen rider, kept on and no chance with winner, 2nd of 15, 10l behind Havana Beat (10-4) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Chesterfield (IRE) 6-1 (10-11) Held up in rear on outside, mistake 2nd, headway 3 out, went 2nd last until flat, kept on, 3rd of 16, 1 3/4l behind Midnight Shadow (10-4) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
The Unit (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Held up in rear, headway 2 out, stayed on, never nearer, 7th of 16, 5 1/2l behind Midnight Shadow (10-4) at Ayr 2m hcp (1) gd in Apr.
Sizing Granite (IRE) 16-1 (11-10) Held up, last from 6th, slight mistake 9th, went 5th approaching straight, bad mistake 2 out, no extra and one pace after, 6th of 12, 10 3/4l behind Bellshill (11-10) at Punchestown 3m 1f (1) Yielding in Apr.
Optimus Prime (FR) 25-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, went moderate 4th 3 out, 4th travelling ok 2 out, hands and heels ride and went 2nd before last, not trouble winner run-in, kept on, never nearer, 2nd of 6, 12l behind Footpad (11-10) at Punchestown 2m (1) Yielding - Soft in Apr.
Capitaine (FR) 10-3fav (11-12) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, every chance last, ridden flat, not run on, 5th of 15, 9 1/2l behind Magic Dancer (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Forth Bridge 16-1 (11-10) Prominent, led 3rd, headed last, not pace of winner flat, kept on, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Magic Dancer (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (3) gd in Apr.
Havana Beat (IRE) 12-1 (10-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, left in lead after last, kept on well, won at Aintree 2m hcp (2) sft in Apr beating Dear Sire (11-6) by 10l, 15 ran.
All Set To Go (IRE) 25-1 (11-2) In rear, ridden after 4 out, kept on from 2 out, 4th of 15, 13 1/4l behind Havana Beat (10-4) at Aintree 2m hcp (2) sft in Apr.
Silver Streak (IRE) 16-1 (10-7) Mid-division, not fluent 1st or 3rd, not much room after 3 out, effort before 2 out, never threatened, 6th of 17, 11 1/4l behind Mr Antolini (10-4) at Sandown 2m hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Act Of Valour 11-1 (11-3) Held up towards rear, good headway on wide outside into 2nd 2 out, every chance last, no extra towards finish, 5th of 20, 3 1/2l behind Ballymoy (11-7) at Sandown 2m hcp (2) gs in Apr.
Lord Napier (IRE) 4-1 (11-13) Held up in touch in last pair, headway chasing leaders going well before 2 out, 2nd soon after 2 out and ridden, led last, driven out, won at Perth 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Apr beating Craiganboy (10-10) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Hassle (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) Led, driven and headed before 3 out, soon behind, weakened before next, last of 6, dist behind Garde La Victoire (11-10) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
William H Bonney 16-1 (10-5) Tracked leaders, ridden after 2 out, lost place before last, weakened flat, 12th of 24, 18 1/2l behind Mohaayed (10-11) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Ashkoul (FR) 9-2 (12-4) Held up in rear, headway went 2nd before 2 out, led before last, soon clear, ridden out, won at Fakenham 2m hcp (4) gs in Apr beating Dinsdale (11-8) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
