in touch on outside, pushed along in 3rd 3 out, mistake next, soon lost place, beaten when mistake last
mid-division, driven to chase leaders 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, never able to challenge
tracked leaders, driven after 2 out, kept on same pace, no impression before last
pressed leader, led 6th, ridden after 2 out, 2 lengths clear last, kept on until headed and no extra closing stages
held up towards rear, driven and headway after 3 out, ridden and stayed on past beaten rivals after last, never nearer
held up towards rear, headway 3 out, chased leaders next, went 2nd after last, ridden and stayed on well flat, led closing stages
led, hit and headed 6th, lost place 4 out, behind and weakening when mistake next, tailed off
held up towards rear, outpaced before 3 out, weakened next, tailed off
held up behind, struggling after 4 out, never involved
in touch on inside, chased leader before 3 out, ridden after next, kept on same pace, lost 2nd after last, no chance with front pair flat
held up, always behind, weakened after 3 out, tailed off
held up mid-division, headway on outside 4 out, outpaced next, soon ridden, weakened between last 2
Kateson has begun the two previous seasons with victories and his close third behind Champ in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury in December was a cracking effort. Irish Roe stepped up to this sort of trip for the first time at Aintree in May and produced her best run to date though a 5lb rise makes this more difficult. Whoshotthesheriff won a couple of minor races in the spring but was there with every chance when falling two out in a Cheltenham handicap last month. Honest Vic appears to have a mind of his own and almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory at Market Rasen though he has enough ability to take this if at his best. Dan Skelton saddles two at the bottom of the weights and Falcon Sun, who should be suited by the step-up in trip, is only 1lb higher than when runner-up at Cheltenham.
Kateson 6-1 (11-4) Keen early, held up in mid-division, steady progress 6th, every chance approaching 3 out, pushed along and not fluent 2 out, ridden and weakened approaching last, 7th of 9, 11l behind Reserve Tank (11-4) at Aintree 2m 4f (1) gd in Apr.
Project Bluebook (FR) 4-1 (11-12) Held up towards rear, closed in back straight, led after normal 4 out, took wrong course by jockey steering round normal 3 out, soon pulled up, at Wetherby 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Irish Roe (IRE) 6-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd from 3 out, led last, stayed on, driven out, won at Aintree 2m 4f hcp (2) gd in May beating Trans Express (10-6) by 1l, 7 ran.
Whoshotthesheriff (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Tracked leader, disputed lead 3 out, every chance when fell next, at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Honest Vic (IRE) 4-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, not clear run approaching 2 out, led after last, strongly challenged closing stages, held on gamely, won at Market Rasen 2m 5f hcp (3) gs in Oct beating Skandiburg (11-1) by shd, 6 ran.
Bold Plan (IRE) 7-1 (10-7) Keen in mid-division, closer after 4 out, pushed along before next, weakened soon after, 10th of 16, dist behind Flash The Steel (10-5) at Chepstow 2m 3f hcp (1) sft in Oct.
Notwhatiam (IRE) 100-1 (10-12) In rear, behind from 6th, not fluent when tailing off next, last of 5, dist behind Top Notch (10-12) at Aintree 2m 4f (2) sft in Nov.
Eviscerating (IRE) 8-1 (12-2) In touch, lost place after 4th, headway approaching 7th, weakened before last, 7th of 10, 27 1/2l behind Ryedale Racer (11-6) at Hexham 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Oct.
Man Of Plenty 20-1 (10-8) Held up towards rear, pushed along after 5th, never near leaders, 8th of 15, 15 3/4l behind Gumball (11-6) at Ascot 2m hcp lst (1) gs in Nov.
Fin And Game (IRE) 25-1 (10-12) Mid-division, struggling in rear 6th, pulled up before 3 out, at Aintree 2m hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Gortroe Joe (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, challenged on bit from 2 out, ridden and no extra run-in, 3rd of 15, 4 1/2l behind Mr Scrumpy (10-12) at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Falcon Sun (FR) 16-1 (10-8) Mid-division, headway 4 out, chased leaders 2 out, soon ridden, every chance when left in narrow lead last, headed flat, no chance with winner final 110 yards, 2nd of 13, 8l behind Benny's Bridge (11-3) at Cheltenham 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
